The German consonant 't' + another consonant 
 The German consonant 't' retains its sound when used in combination with other consonants. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four words in which the letter 't' forms part of a consonant cluster at the start of a word. The words themselves are given in the box below along with an English translation:
 Sounds 1: 't' + consonant in initial position |
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trinken
(to drink) |
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trotz
(despite) |
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trocken
(dry) |
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treu
(loyal) |
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Attention should be paid to words that start with the German consonant cluster 'tsch', as the initial 't' of the consonant cluster needs to be pronounced. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four words beginning with 'tsch'.
| Sounds 2: The consonant cluster 'tsch' |
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tschüs!
(goodbye!) |
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tschechisch
(Czech) |
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Tscheche
(Czech (male)) |
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Tschechin
(Czech (female)) |
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Now click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear six German words in which the letter 't' forms the final element of a consonant cluster which appears at the end of each word.
| Sounds 3: Consonant + 't' in final position |
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bunt
(colourful) |
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Welt
(world) |
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kalt
(cold) |
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fast
(almost) |
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hart
(hard) |
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Sport
(sport) |
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The consonant cluster 'th' is always pronounced as the phoneme /t/. This is true regardless of whether 'th' appears at the beginning, middle or end of a word. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear a native speaker pronounce German words which contain 'th'. The words themselves are supplied in the box below along with an English translation:
| Sounds 4: The 'th' consonant cluster |
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Theater
(theatre) |
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Thema
(theme) |
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Theorie
(theory) |
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sympathisch
(pleasant) |
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Apotheke
(chemist's) |
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Mathematik
(mathematics) |
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Methode
(method) |
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Athlet
(athlete) |
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Psychopath
(psychopath) |
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The German consonant cluster '-tz' is also pronounced in the same way as English 'ts'. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words which contain the letters '-tz' in medial and final position.
| Sounds 5: Words containing the letters 'tz' |
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Dutzend
(dozen) |
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Netz
(net) |
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hetzen
(to rush) |
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plötzlich
(suddenly) |
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 How to pronounce German 'v'
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