The German consonant 'd' + another consonant
The German consonant /d/ retains its sound at the start or in the middle of a word when it is used in combination with other consonants. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four words where the letter 'd' forms part of a consonant cluster that appears at the start of a word. The words themselves are given in the box below along with an English translation:
Sounds 1: 'd' + consonant in initial position |
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drei
(three) |
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draußen
(outside) |
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Drama
(drama) |
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drehen
(to turn) |
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Now click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words in the middle of which the letter 'd' appears as part of a consonant cluster. The words themselves are supplied in the box below along with an English translation:
Sounds 2: 'd' + consonant in medial position |
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Kinder
(children) |
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wandern
(to wander) |
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Bilder
(pictures) |
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niedrig
(low) |
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Note that the German consonant cluster '-dt' is also pronounced as a /t/ phoneme. It occurs most frequently in the word Stadt and its compounds. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear a native speaker pronounce the words below:
Sounds 3: The consonant cluster 'dt' |
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Stadt
(city) |
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Städte
(cities) |
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Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear how the word Mädchen should be spoken. The consonant cluster in the middle of this word can cause difficulties for non-native speakers.
Now click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear six German words in which the letter 'd' appears as part of a consonant cluster at the end of a word. As before, whenever the German consonant 'd' appears at the end of a word, it is pronounced as a /t/ phoneme.
Sounds 4: Consonant + 'd' in final position |
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Deutschland
(Germany) |
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Kind
(child) |
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Geld
(money) |
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Bild
(picture) |
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Herd
(cooker) |
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Bord
(board) |
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How to pronounce German 'f'
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