German sounds and introductions
German spelling is highly regular: once you know a few sound patterns, unfamiliar words become much easier to pronounce.
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand and respond to spoken and written German
Key learning points
- • Sound-spelling links
- • Introduce yourself
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 13 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 13
Visual introductionPicture this
German sounds and introductions
German spelling is highly regular: once you know a few sound patterns, unfamiliar words become much easier to pronounce.
In a nutshell
Understand and respond to spoken and written German
Explore the idea
Part 2 of 13
Learn
Sound-spelling links
German w sounds like English v, j sounds like English y, and ei sounds like eye. Practise with wie, ja and mein before reading a new sentence aloud.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 13
Learn
Introduce yourself
Ich heiße… gives your name; Ich bin dreizehn Jahre alt gives your age; Ich wohne in… says where you live. Ask Wie heißt du? and Wo wohnst du?
Reset break
Part 4 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 5 of 13
Quick check
Part 6 of 13
Quick check
Part 7 of 13
Reset break
Part 8 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 9 of 13
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 10 of 13
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
____ w sounds like English v, j sounds like English y, and ei sounds like eye.
Challenge round
Part 11 of 13
Game · Recall cards
How does German w usually sound?
Card 1 of 3
Mastery quiz
Part 12 of 13
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: German sounds and introductions
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. How does German w usually sound?
2. What does 'Ich heiße…' introduce?
3. Which asks where someone lives?
Lesson round-up
Part 13 of 13
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Points this lesson
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Best run
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Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 13 · Watch & discover