Unstressed '-e' vowels
The unstressed 'e' sound is the most common vowel sound in German, appearing very frequently in final position in words such as 'eine' and 'viele'. Also known as a 'schwa', this sound should cause few problems for English speakers, as it equates to the final 'a' sound in the English word 'sofa'. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear two German words ending in this unstressed 'e' vowel:
Sounds 1: The unstressed 'e' vowel |
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Majonäse
(mayonnaise) |
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Boje
(buoy) |
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Care should be taken to distinguish between an unstressed German '-e' and an unstressed German '-er'. Although ostensibly quite similar, the tongue should be retracted more quickly in German '-er' sounds than it is in an unstressed '-e'. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to practise differentiating between the German words 'bitte' and 'bitter':
Sounds 2: Distinguishing between '-e' and '-er' |
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bitte
(please) |
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bitter
(bitter) |
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German unstressed '-er'
Sometimes referred to as a 'dark schwa', the German unstressed '-er' or vocalic 'r' is articulated with the tongue slightly lower and further back in the vowel area than the 'schwa' sound heard at the end of such German words as 'Liebe', 'Katze' and 'Ratte'.
The most common usage of vocalic 'r' is in unstressed "-er" syllables at the end of German words. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words ending in a vocalic 'r'. The words are listed in the box below along with their English translation.
Sounds 3: Vocalic 'r' in final position |
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Bruder
(brother) |
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Schwester
(sister) |
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Mutter
(mother) |
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Vater
(father) |
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You will also hear vocalic 'r' in the unstressed German prefixes of verbs and nouns that start with er-, ver-, zer- and her-. Click here or on the sound icon to listen to the vocalic 'r' in four words containing these prefixes.
Sounds 4: Vocalic 'r' in unstressed prefixes |
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erlauben
(to allow) |
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vergessen
(to forget) |
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zerstören
(to destroy) |
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hereinkommen
(to come in) |
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The German diphthong 'ei' ('ai', 'ey', 'ay')
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