The German alphabet is based on the Latin script and contains 26 standard letters, just like English, plus a few additional characters. Learning the German alphabet is an essential first step in mastering pronunciation and spelling.
Listen and Learn the Letters
Each letter of the German alphabet is listed below with audio pronunciation. Click on the letters to hear how they sound in standard German. This will help you recognize spoken words and improve your own pronunciation.
Listen to pronunciation of German alphabet
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, Ä, Ö, Ü, ß
Listen volume_down
| Letter | Pronunciation volume_down |
|---|---|
| A | A |
| B | B |
| C | C |
| D | D |
| E | E |
| F | F |
| G | G |
| H | H |
| I | I |
| J | J |
| K | K |
| L | L |
| M | M |
| N | N |
| O | O |
| P | P |
| Q | Q |
| R | R |
| S | S |
| T | T |
| U | U |
| V | V |
| W | W |
| X | X |
| Y | Y |
| Z | Z |
| Ä | Ä |
| Ö | Ö |
| Ü | Ü |
| ß | ß |
Special Characters in German
In addition to the 26 letters of the standard Latin alphabet, German includes the following special characters:
- Ä, Ö, Ü – vowels with umlauts that change the pronunciation
- ß – the Eszett or sharp S, used in place of “ss” in certain contexts
A Brief History of the German Alphabet
The German alphabet evolved from the Latin script during the early Middle Ages. Over time, regional variants developed, and by the 20th century, the modern German alphabet was standardized. The use of umlauts and the Eszett (ß) reflect unique sounds in the German language that are not found in English.
Practice Tip
Practice reading out loud and listening carefully to the audio. Repeat each letter until you feel confident. Mastering the alphabet helps you build a solid foundation for reading and pronunciation in German.