How do you talk about counting and paying in German?

Zählen means “to count” and zahlen means “to pay”. Both words have the same root Zahl, meaning “number” but they are frequently mixed up and mispronounced, creating confusing situations.

Here’s some help on how to pronounce the two:

• The “ä” in zählen is like the “eh” sound you make when expressing indifference.

• The “a” in zahlen is like the “aaah” sound you make at the dentist.

Exercise