Speak German clearly: free pronunciation test and tips
Find out how clear your German pronunciation is. Take the free German pronunciation test, get a score for every word you say, and learn the sounds German learners find hardest. For daily practice, Flai Speaking gives you an AI coach to talk to in German.
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The hardest German sounds for learners
Ü and Ö
Say 'ee' as in 'see', then round your lips tightly without moving your tongue: that is ü /y/ (über, grün). Do the same with the e in 'bed' and you get the short ö /œ/ in können. If ü turns into u, Mütter (mothers) becomes Mutter (mother).
The ich and ach sounds
After a, o, u and au, ch is the ach sound /x/, a soft scrape at the back of the mouth (Nacht, Buch, auch). Everywhere else it is the ich sound /ç/: put your tongue where it is for the y in 'yes' and breathe out (ich, nicht, Milch). Don't replace either one with k or sh.
The German R
At the start of a syllable, standard German uses a uvular R /ʁ/, a light friction at the back of the throat, close to a quiet gargle (rot, Rose, fahren). After a vowel it turns into a vowel sound: der sounds close to 'dea', and the -er at the end of Vater is a short 'uh' /ɐ/.
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