In English, there is a huge difference between the words “humid” and “gay.” In German, there is not. Unless you want to confuse these 2 words, like Johnny does in this story, then read through to the end 😉

Johnny walks up the front porch of his German host family’s house, with a huge smile on his face. He can’t wait to meet them at last; well, what he really can’t wait for is to escape the humid, sticky weather outside and to enjoy a glass of ice cold water indoors. His host mother, Karin, opens the door and greets Johnny with a wam,

“Herzlich Willkommen in deinem neuen Haus! Bitte komm rein und erhalte ein Getränk.” – “A warm welcome to your new home! Please come inside and grab a drink.”

Without thinking for another second, Johnny rushes to the kitchen to get a drink. After downing a cup of water in just seconds, he sighs, looks at his host mother, Karin, and says:

“Mann, es ist total schwul.” – ‘Man, it is totally gay.’

Karin stares at the boy and asks in a confused tone:

“Wie bitte…?” – ‘Come again…?’

Johnny responds,

“Das Wetter natürlich! Ich kann kaum atmen.” – ‘The weather of course. I can hardly breathe.”

After a 30-second pause, Karin bursts into a fit of laughter and Johnny starts to blush instantly.

Well, the rest of the story, you can easily predict. Karin kindly explains to Johnny the difference between “schwul – gay” & “schwül – humid.” Though he had to learn the hard way, at least he learned – right?

To ensure we do not find ourselves in situations similar to Johnny’s, it is incredibly important that we learn the proper pronunciation of German words. To help you do just that, this post covers all the challenging letters and syllables in German.

For each challenging letter pairing or syllable, there will be 3-4 pairs of English and German sentences for sound comparison – pronunciation guide at the top of each section.

When you’re finished reading, you will be able to speak every sound just like a native. Trust me, you will impress yourself!

W – a “V” sound in English

• English:
  • The volcano erupted last year.
  • The viper hisses at its prey.
  • He prepares his vows for his bride.
• German:
  • Das weiße Hemd ist schmutzig.
  • Der Wagen ist leider kaputt.
  • Ich möchte ein Glas Wein.

• S – at beginning of word, like a “Z” sound in English; at end of word, like an “S” sound” in English

• English (beginning of word):
  • The zoo is crowded with tourists.
  • The zebra has black and white stripes.
• German (beginning of word):
  • Zu viel Salz verursacht Krankheiten.
  • Das Silber ist weniger wertvoll als das Gold.
• English (end of word):
  • Horses and chickens live in the stable.
  • It is best to suspect the worst and hope for the best.
• German (end of word):
  • Das Mädchen fühlt sich mies.
  • Er denkt, dass er alles weiss.

Z, tz – a “ts” sound in English

• English:
  • The rats run into the sewer.
  • He bets $1000 on the soccer game.
  • She sits on the throne next to her king.
• German:
  • Zucker ist süchtig machend, aber Honig ist gesund.
  • Geben Sie eine Prise Zimt in den Haferbrei.
  • Die Bleistiftspitze ist plötzlich abgebrochen.

St / Sp / Sch – a “sh” sound in English

• English:
  • The shiny object draws the child’s attention.
  • The shore is filled with seashells and sand.
  • Shopping can be a dangerous habit.
• German:
  • Stuttgart ist eine weltbekannte deutsche Stadt.
  • Das Spiel beginnt morgen um 17 Uhr.
  • Das Schiff ist schon abgeflogen.

Ü – like the  “oo” sound in the English word “mood,” but more rounded out, like “mewwwd”

• English: (these are approximate, as there is no direct comparison)
  • He is very crude with his language.
  • The lewd film is inappropriate for children.
  • The family feud has lasted for 30 years.
• German:
  • Ich bin immer müde bis Ende des Werktags.
  • Ich fühle mich ausgeruht, wenn ich mehr als 8 Stunden schlafe.
  • Man darf die Tiere nicht berühren.

Ei – like the “i” sound in English

• English:
  • The shiny surface reflects the sunlight.
  • The minor crime has major consequences.
  • There is a huge fine for texting and driving.
• German:
  • Einstein lebt in die Ewigkeit weiter.
  • Wir bleiben zu Hause heute Abend.
  • Ich weiss leider nicht.

Ie – like the “ee” sound in English

• English:
  • She feels free after her last exam of the year.
  • The king makes a decree to his people.
  • The man flees from the burning building.
• German:
  • Die Mutter sorgt fuer ihre Kinder.
  • Ich kann Klavier, aber nicht Gitarre.
  • Es gibt viele Tiere im Zoo.

Au – like the “ow” sound in English

• English:
  • The farmer plows the land.
  • How has your family been?
  • The crowd at the concert is very diverse.
• German:
  • Die Musik ist ein bisschen zu laut.
  • Pflegen Sie Ihre Haut jeden Tag.
  • Der Himmel und der Ozean sind blau.

-ig – like the “ish” sound in English, with a hissing sound added

• English:
  • The fish swims up the stream.
  • Be careful what you wish for.
  • Which dish is your favorite at the restaurant?
• German:
  • Der Jung ist traurig, weil er keine Schokolade essen darf.
  • Ich arbeite vierzig Stunden pro Woche.
  • Der Comedian ist nicht sehr lustig.

Eu, Äu – like the “oy” sound in English

• English:
  • The child’s toy is small and red.
  • The dictator has a ploy to trap to the enemy.
  • Rice tastes much better with soy sauce.
• German:
  • Deutschland ist fast die bevölkerungsreichste Land in Europa.
  • Der Jung ist seiner Freundinnen untreu.
  • Das Fräulein ist schön und schlank.

V – like the “f” sound in English

• English:
  • The field on the countryside is barren..
  • There are many fish in this pond.
  • French fries are the tastiest side item.
• German:
  • Mein Vater ist ein sehr erfolgreicher Verkäufer.
  • Es gibt zu vielen Auswahlen.
  • Das Videospiel ist unglaublich unterhaltsam.

Phew, quite the list, huh? Well now that you’re through it, I hope you feel more like a native. I mean, you definitely should, because once you master these letter pairings and syllables, nothing else can challenge you!

Are we missing any difficult letter pairings or syllables? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll add it to the list!