German long vowels 
The articulation of German vowels varies according to whether the vowel is long or short. Although the vowel length of each new word must of course be noted the first time that you encounter it, there are a few general rules which may help you to ascertain the duration of German vowel sounds.
 1. A German vowel is usually long if it is followed by a single consonant. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words that end with a single consonant and thus have a long vowel sound. The words themselves are given in the box below along with an English translation:
 Sounds 1: Long vowel before a single consonant |
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Bad
(bath) |
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Rad
(wheel) |
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rot
(red) |
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gut
(good) |
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2. A German vowel is usually long if it is written in a word as a double letter. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words containing the letters 'aa', 'ee' and 'oo'.
| Sounds 2: Long German 'doubled' vowels |
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Meer
(sea) |
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Paar
(pair) |
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Boot
(boat) |
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Saat
(seed) |
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3. A German vowel is usually long if it is followed by a silent 'h'. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words containing a long vowel + 'h' in either medial or final position.
| Sounds 3: Long vowels before a silent 'h' |
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Lehrer
(teacher) |
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Fahrer
(driver) |
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roh
(raw) |
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Kuh
(cow) |
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4. The German letters 'ie' usually represent a long German 'i' sound. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words whose 'ie' letters represent a long vowel sound. (N.B. the articulation of 'ie' is of course different if it appears in an unstressed syllable at the end of a word.)
| Sounds 4: Long 'ie' vowel sounds |
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vier
(four) |
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Spiel
(game) |
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Lied
(song) |
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schier
(sheer) |
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5. An unstressed vowel at the end of a word is generally long, unless this vowel is an '-e' sound. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four German words that end in vowels other than '-e':
| Sounds 5: Long vowel sounds at the end of a word |
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Lotto
(lottery) |
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Vati
(daddy) |
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Sofa
(sofa) |
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Mofa
(moped) |
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 Short German vowels
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