ie In Standard German
The letter combination "ie" is one of the most important vowel spellings in German. It almost always represents a long /iː/ sound and is strongly associated with vowel length in native words and many loanwords.
Letter Combination | ie |
|---|---|
Name | ie (pronounced /iː eː/) |
Common Sound(s) | /iː/, /ɪ/, /iə/ |
The Letter Combination "ie"
Sound 1: /iː/
In most native German words, "ie" represents a long /iː/ vowel.
wie → /viː/
how / like
tief → /tiːf/
deep
Sound 2: /iə/
In some proper names and loanwords, "ie" can be pronounced as /iə/ when syllable boundaries remain visible.
Familie → /faˈmiːliə/
family
Studie → /ˈʃtuːdiə/
study
Sound 3: /ɪ/
In some fast or reduced speech contexts, "ie" may be shortened toward /ɪ/, though this is not reflected in spelling.
wichtig → /ˈvɪçtɪç/
important
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