German Special Character Pronuncuiation

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Letter German Sound Equivalent Sound in English German Example
ã   as in 'Sarah' Hãnde, (hands)
ö   similar to 'fur' Söhne
ü   like 'une' in French für (for) gr ün (green)
au ow now braun
ãu oi oil Hãuser, (houses)
eu oi same sound as above Deutschland
ei i i, eye, like Wein, mein
ie ee see, me hier, sie
ch ch like scottish loch ich nicht
sp shp Sport
st sht Sturm
sch sh shoe Schuh
ß* ess tsett** double 's' sound
* can always be substituted by 'ss'		 er eßt
(essen -to eat)
    Double vowels - lengthen a syllable leer (empty)
    Double consonants - shorten a syllable rollen (to roll)
Click here for basic alphabet