The Letter "D" in German In Standard German
"D" is the fourth letter of the German alphabet. It is a consonant and a very common native letter used in everyday German vocabulary.
Uppercase Form | D |
|---|---|
Lowercase Form | d |
Name | de |
Common Sounds | /d/, /t/ |
Pronouncing "D"
"d" is usually pronounced as /d/, similar to English words like "dog" or "day." However, its sound can change depending on its position in a word.
"D" as /d/
At the beginning of a word or between vowels, "d" keeps its clear /d/ sound.
Dorf → /dɔʁf/
village
Idee → /iˈdeː/
idea
"D" as /t/ at the End of Words
When "d" appears at the end of a word or syllable, it is pronounced as /t/. This is due to final devoicing in German.
Abend → /ˈaːbənt/
evening
Hund → /hʊnt/
dog
"D" in Letter Combinations
Fixed groups of letters with "d" produce reliable sounds in German.
"dsch"
At the beginning and inside a word, "dsch" is pronounced like /dʒ/, similar to the "j" in jungle.
Dschalalabad → /d͡ʒalalaˈbaːt/
Jalalabad
Dschungel → /ˈd͡ʒʊŋl̩/
jungle
"dt"
The combination "dt" is pronounced as /t/. It is especially common in verb forms and proper names.
Langenscheidt → /ˈlaŋənˌʃaɪ̯t/
Langenscheidt
verwandt → /fɛɐ̯ˈvant/
related
Comments
(0)
Recommended
