German vowels: long and short 'ä' 
 The short German 'ä' vowel
The short German 'ä' sound - which can only be written 'ä' - is articulated in much the same manner as the 'e' vowel in the English words 'get' and 'set'. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words containing this short 'ä' vowel:
 Sounds 1: The short German 'ä' vowel |
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Männer
(men) |
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Hände
(hands) |
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Bänke
(benches) |
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hätte
(would have) |
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The long German 'ä' vowel
The long German 'ä' vowel - which can be written 'ä', 'äh', but never 'ää' - has no corresponding long vowel in English. It is best to start with the short German 'ä' vowel outlined above and gradually lengthen it. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words containing this long 'ä' vowel:
| Sounds 2: The long German 'ä' vowel |
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Mädchen
(girl) |
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wählen
(to vote) |
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kläglich
(pitiful) |
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Währung
(currency) |
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The most common mistake made by English-speakers in articulating this long vowel sound is to produce a slight diphthongisation, i.e. to glide off into an 'aee' sound heard in English words such as 'day' or 'played'. This temptation must be resisted - German vowels do not glide off into a different vowel sound. Try instead to keep the tongue in the same position throughout a long 'ä' vowel sound.
 The German diphthongs 'au' and 'eu' ('äu')
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