3 February 2026
How to pronounce the German Umlaute Ä, Ö, Ü
Each language comes with a set of challenges. In this article, we will share some important pronunciation information to learn German for beginners. One of German’s specialities are the so-called Umlaute. They represent a sound change in a vowel and are commonly found in Germanic languages. Vowels in general are pronounced differently according to whether they are long or short. Let’s take a look at how we can learn to pronounce all of them correctly.
Long (i.e. stressed)
- “ä” as in Käse is like an English person saying “air”
- “ü” as in müde is like a Scottish person saying “grew” Make the sound “ee” as in “cheese” and then make your lips into an “o” shape.
- “ö” as in blöd is like an English person saying “burn” Make the sound “a” as in the word “may” and then make your lips into an “o” shape.
Short (i.e. unstressed)
- “ä” as in hängen is pronounced like the English word “ten”- “ü” as in Mütter is like the English word “wit” but round your lips as if whistling- “ö” as in Hölle is like an English person saying “her”
Practice makes perfect!
Feeling a little silly when learning a new language is part of the journey. Pronouncing words properly is really important so that others can understand you and to prevent a very thick accent. So don’t despÄr and keep practicing.
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