Go to the homepage of our German Course German vowels: long and short 'e' University of Portsmouth
German vowels: long and short 'e' Includes sound files!

Click here to listen to the soundsThe short German 'e' vowel
The short German 'e' sound is articulated in much the same manner as the 'e' vowel in the English words 'get' and 'set'. It represents the same sound therefore as the short German 'ä'. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear six German words containing this short 'e' vowel:

wenn
(if, when)
   fett
(fat)
Dreck
(dirt)
   echt
(genuine)
Fell
(fur)
   Nest
(nest)


Click here to listen to the soundsThe long German /e:/ vowel
The long German /e:/ vowel - which can be written 'e', 'eh' or 'ee' - has no corresponding long vowel in English. To pronounce it, you must ensure that your tongue remains tense and in the same high position in your mouth throughout articulation - the sound must not glide off into an 'i' at the end as it can do in English words such as 'day'. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear six German words containing this long 'e' vowel:

sehr
(very)
   mehr
(more)
Meer
(sea)
   Teer
(tar)
Beet
(bed)
   Gel
(gel)


Click here to listen to the soundsDistinguishing between long and short German 'e' vowels
To practise distinguishing between the long and short German 'e' vowels, click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear three pairs of German words. The first word in each pair contains a long 'e' vowel, whereas the second contains a short 'e' vowel.

Heer
(army)
   Herr
(gentleman)
Hehl
(secret)
   hell
(bright)
Beet
(flower-bed)
   Bett
(bed)


Weiter! Unstressed German '-e' and '-er'


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