The German Consonant 'l'
The pronunciation of the German consonant 'l' often proves difficult for language learners whose first language is English. This is because the English consonant system contains two 'l' sounds:
- 1) the so-called clear 'l' or front 'l' which is found at the beginning of words (i.e. 'lamp', 'land', 'like')
- 2) the dark 'l' or back 'l' which is found only at the end of words or syllables (i.e. 'rattle', 'tackle', 'will').
German, on the other hand, uses the clear 'l' sound in all positions. It can prove difficult therefore for English speakers to resist the temptation to articulate dark 'l' consonants at the end of German words or syllables where a clear 'l' sound should be employed.
You should therefore practise the formation of the German clear 'l' (front 'l') sound. It is a lateral consonant, which means air escapes laterally in its production, because the sides of the tongue stay down while the blade of the tongue makes contact with the alveolar ridge of the mouth. To feel the movement of air for yourself, trying forming a clear 'l' but then breathe in quickly - you will feel a stream of cold air moving along both sides of the tongue and palate.
Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear ten German words containing the German clear 'l'. The words themselves are given in the box below along with an English translation:
Sounds 1: The German clear or front 'l' |
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alleine
(alone) |
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hell
(bright) |
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wild
(wild) |
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Fräulein
(young lady) |
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Polen
(Poland) |
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Teil
(part) |
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Unheil
(disaster) |
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Schal
(shawl) |
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Leute
(people) |
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lallen
(to babble) |
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As it is the end of words where native English speakers are most tempted to use a dark 'l', click either here or on the sound icon on the left to practise the following German words, all of which contain a final consonant which must be pronounced as a clear 'l'. The words are supplied in the box below along with their English translation:
Sounds 2: 'l' in final position |
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viel
(much) |
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Ventil
(valve; outlet) |
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Stil
(style) |
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Nil
(Nile) |
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Kiel
(Kiel) |
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subtil
(subtle) |
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The clear 'l' is also used in final '-el' syllables. Make sure that you do not unconsciously raise the back of your tongue when articulating these sounds, as we do for example in English 'cattle', 'subtle' or 'scuttle'. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words which all end in a clear '-el'.
Sounds 3: German '-el' in final position |
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Schlüssel
(key) |
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Mittel
(means) |
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Apfel
(apple) |
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Wandel
(change) |
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Finally, click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear a native speaker pronounce four German words ending in '-eln'. These too need to be articulated with a clear 'l' (front 'l') as opposed to a dark 'l'.
Sounds 4: German '-eln' in final position |
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wandeln
(to change) |
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sammeln
(to collect) |
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angeln
(to fish) |
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Kartoffeln
(potatoes) |
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How to pronounce German 'm'
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