The Letter "H" in German In Standard German
"H" is the eighth letter of the German alphabet and represents a consonant sound. It is a core native letter and plays a special role in German pronunciation because it can function both as a consonant and as a marker of vowel length.
Uppercase Form | H |
|---|---|
Lowercase Form | h |
Name | ha |
Common Sounds | /h/, silent (vowel length marker) |
Pronouncing "H"
"h" is usually pronounced as the voiceless consonant /h/, similar to English words like "house" or "hello". However, its pronunciation depends strongly on its position in the word.
"H" as /h/
At the beginning of a word or syllable before a vowel, "h" is clearly pronounced as /h/.
Haus → /haʊs/
house
Hund → /hʊnt/
dog
"H" as silent (vowel lengthening function)
Inside words or syllables, "h" is often not pronounced. Instead, it indicates that the previous vowel is long.
sehen → /ˈzeːən/
to see
Uhr → /uːɐ̯/
clock / hour
"H" and meaning distinction
Even when silent, "h" can help distinguish words in spelling and meaning.
sehen → /ˈzeːən/
to see
Seen → /zeːn/
lakes
Comments
(0)
Recommended
