The German Letter 'y'
The German letter 'y' can be pronounced in a number of different ways, depending on its position in a word or syllable. If it is used as a vowel, it sounds like the German long or short vowel 'ü'. The fact that this letter often appears in words in whose English equivalent it would be pronounced as an 'i' makes the German 'y' a sound that it can be very easy to mispronounce. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear six German words which all contain 'y' in medial position. How would their equivalents be pronounced in English?
Sounds 1: Words containing the letter 'y' in medial position |
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typisch
(typical) |
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Physik
(physics) |
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Pyramide
(pyramid) |
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Gymnasium
(grammar school) |
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Rhythmus
(rhythm) |
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Hymne
(hymn) |
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If 'y' stands at the beginning or end of a word, then it is pronounced in the same way as it would be in English. The word in which it appears is very probably an import from English in the first place. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear three words which end with the German letter 'y' and one word that starts with this letter.
Sounds 2: Words with 'y' in initial and final position |
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Hobby
(hobby) |
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Yoga
(yoga) |
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Party
(party) |
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Handy
(mobile phone) |
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How to pronounce the German consonant 'z'
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