Just like with people, every language has its own unique sound. Though German and English share some similarities, they both still have their own individual tones. So what does German actually sound like? If you’re curious to find out, keep reading! We’ll explore some of the most distinct aspects of the German language and how it differs from English. Plus, we’ll provide a few examples so that you can hear for yourself just how different these two languages can be! So, let’s get started!
One of the first things you’ll notice about German is that it often sounds harsher than English. This is due to the fact that German uses more guttural sounds, such as “ch,” “ck,” and “tz.” These sounds are produced in the back of the throat and can be difficult for English speakers to replicate. In addition, German words are often longer than their English counterparts, which can make them seem more complicated at first.
However, once you get used to hearing these longer words, you’ll start to recognize some patterns. For instance, many German words are built up from a series of shorter words or root words. This can make them easier to break down and understand, even if they do take a bit longer to say!
So, what does all of this mean for you? If you’re interested in learning German, then be prepared for a bit of a challenge! However, don’t let this discourage you. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to get the hang of German in no time. And, who knows? You may even come to appreciate the unique sound of this fascinating language!
German is a language that sounds guttural and harsh to many English speakers. This may be because German has more consonants than English does, which can make it difficult for beginners to produce the correct sounds. But with a little practice, you’ll find that German is not as hard to speak as it seems at first!
Morgen!
“Guten Morgen” is not so much used by German people. A simple “Morgen!” is more than enough to say hello to someone in the morning.
Es freut mich!
This is what you are supposed to say when meeting someone for the first time in Germany. It is the equivalent of “nice to meet you!”.
Alles klar
Alles klar is used to show the person you are talking to that you understood perfectly what she said. You hear it sometimes at the end of a conversation: alles klar, tschüß! – “all right, bye!”. German people also uses it as a question to check if everything is all right: alles klar?
Genau
Using genau in a conversation will make you sound like a native in German! This short word is very common and easy to use in a sentence. This word means “that’s right”, “exactly”, “you are right”… Try listening to German people; you will hear it all the time!
Gott sei Dank!
Literally “Thank God”. Like in English quite a lot of German phrases are influenced by religion. You will also hear Meine Güte or Oh mein Gott.
Alles Gute!
You may have learnt in class that “happy birthday” in German is: Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag… Literally “Heartful wishes on your birthday”. If you feel like you can’t actually say that, don’t worry! Oftentimes German people greet friends or family with a simple Alles Gute! which means “all the best”. Much easier, right?
Zack, zack!
Zack, zack, would be the English “chop, chop!”! It gives you the idea of a quick move to go on with something else. Zack, zack, so let’s move to the next one quickly!
Quatsch!
When you want to say ach Quatsch , it’s like saying “don’t be silly” or “that’s nonsense!”.
Stimmt
Stimmt is to agree with someone. It is often used when the person you are talking to convinced you about something or tells you about something you did not think about. It is like “oh yes it’s true” or “you are right”.
Mahlzeit!
If it’s true there is in German the formal phrase Guten Appetit; it could be useful as well to know this other version when wishing someone to enjoy his meal. You can even find a literal translation of the English sentence: Lass es euch schmecken!
Mach’s gut!
This is the equivalent of the English phrase “take care”. This is the perfect thing to say when leaving someone and say goodbye.
Tschüss!
Tschüss would be the general word to use every time you want to say goodbye, whether you know the person or not. Of course you also have the famous auf Wiedersehen but let’s say that if you are not sure about its pronunciation, just go for a Tschüss…!
