How to Learn Basic German Pronunciation & Words

Visit Intro2German to learn the basics of German pronunciation and see every letter in many contexts. Letters to watch out for include ä (ay); ö and ü, which are formed at the front of the mouth; b, d, and g, which become unvoiced at the end of words; c, whose pronunciation varies greatly; j (y); qu, pronounced kv; r, which is pronounced in the throat; s(z); v(f); w(v); y(u); z(ts) and ß (ss).

Check out a beginner's textbook or German travel book from your local library; if not available locally, these resources can be accessed via inter-library loan. The advantage of a travel book is that it will provide you with basic words and phrases without delving deeply into grammatical points you might not be interested in at this point in your learning. Follow along in the order the material is presented; cultural and language information will be used in later lessons.

Use multimedia tools such as CDs, DVDs and CD-Roms to keep yourself engaged in your studies. These help when a textbook gets boring and allow you to see and hear native speakers interacting, which is important for your speaking and comprehension skills. When selecting a textbook, get one with accompanying audio-visual materials.

Use the wealth of German learning information available on the Internet. Visit Web sites such as Deutsch Lernen, elanguageschool and the University of Exeter's beginning German to enhance your knowledge for free online.

Consider getting a tutor who can work with you one-on-one to perfect your pronunciation and who can teach you the kind of vocabulary items you're interested in. You may also benefit from taking a beginning German class, which gives you the opportunity to speak, write and listen with others regularly, and to be guided by an experienced German-speaker.