Tips on learning german

Pojo_ · Post by **Pojo_** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:37 pm

So, ive decided to take a german class at highschool. So far its pretty hard understanding and pronouncing some words. A lot of times I will pronounce them how they are spelled. Like 'großen', at first I pronounced that 'gro ben' but now I know how to correctly pronounce it. So I was wondering if there are any tips to help me understand the german language better, pronouncing words, really anything to help me out.

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Clueless · Post by **Clueless** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:47 pm

yeah i cant help you, im a "frenchie" according to one of my friends. he speaks german tho, too bad he isnt on here. haha.

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manadren · Post by **manadren** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:52 pm

Don't look at me, I took Spanish i high school. I suggest you listen to more Rammstein.

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:02 pm

Well, you want to surround yourself with German as much as possible. Watch German movies, listen to German radio, read German children’s books, etc. You’ll get better if you just stick with it.

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:32 am

As with any language, you'll get used to the rules of spelling and pronounciation with time, but yes, hearing native speakers speak the language will help you.

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Clueless · Post by **Clueless** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 4:34 pm

yeah, i like listening to the french exchange students talk.

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:04 pm

No you don't.

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Clueless · Post by **Clueless** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:06 pm

how would you know

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Reaper · Post by **Reaper** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:32 pm

Pojo_ wrote: So, ive decided to take a german class at highschool. So far its pretty hard understanding and pronouncing some words. A lot of times I will pronounce them how they are spelled. Like 'großen', at first I pronounced that 'gro ben' but now I know how to correctly pronounce it. So I was wondering if there are any tips to help me understand the german language better, pronouncing words, really anything to help me out.

ß is a double "s" as I guess you learned. It's not so hard after a while, and the class is probably a lot better if you don't have a crazy teacher.

German / English

V = f (von - fon [maybe like "fawn"] )
W = v (Wunderlust - Vunterlust)
ei = hard i like "I"
ie = e (german die. . .dee)
d = t

Also, "u"'s are not the English "u". It's kind of hard to explain online though.

Get a German dictionary, like the Langenscheidt one.

Hope that was helpful, and feel free to ask me more.

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:45 pm

No, 'd' does not equal 't' in pronounciation.

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Reaper · Post by **Reaper** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:46 pm

Oh really?

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:53 pm

Yes. You even contradicted yourself in your own post:

ie = e (german die. . .dee)
d = t

'wunderlust' is pronounced 'voonderloost', not 'vunterlust'

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Reaper · Post by **Reaper** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:55 pm

While I was in German that's what I was taught.

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Reaper · Post by **Reaper** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:57 pm

Er, yeah it is.
I was taught that it can be pronounced as a t. Take it up with my teacher, not me if I'm wrong.

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:01 pm

No, 'd' is ONLY pronounced like a 't' in certain cases - like when it comes before a 't' - it is essentially silent. When 'd' comes before an 's', it is pronounced like a 't'. Also, when 'd' appears at the end of a word, it is pronounced like a 't'.

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:04 pm

land = lant
landen = landen
Stadt = stat
Heider = hIder
Lederhosen = lehderhosen

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:05 pm

Sorry Reaper, if your German teacher says otherwise, s/he is wrong.

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Reaper · Post by **Reaper** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:06 pm

Stasi wrote: No, 'd' is ONLY pronounced like a 't' in certain cases - like when it comes before a 't' - it is essentially silent. When 'd' comes before an 's', it is pronounced like a 't'. Also, when 'd' appears at the end of a word, it is pronounced like a 't'.

So I was right?

"can be pronounced as a t"

Just my first post was wrong.

And the "eh, yeah it is" was in reference to a deleted post about the contradiction.

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:09 pm

Reaper wrote: Er, yeah it is.
I was taught that it can be pronounced as a t. Take it up with my teacher, not me if I'm wrong.

Nice try. This post originally said that it is 'usually' pronounced as a 't', which what I went on further to refute.

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Stasi · Post by **Stasi** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:45 pm

Reaper wrote: And the "eh, yeah it is" was in reference to a deleted post about the contradiction.

Whose deleted post?

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Reaper · Post by **Reaper** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:01 pm

Mine.

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Pojo_ · Post by **Pojo_** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:58 am

manadren wrote: I suggest you listen to more Rammstein.

Yeah, ive been listening to a lot of Rammstein. I think I have the song "keine lust" memorized by now.

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michaelk1993adg · Post by **michaelk1993adg** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:05 am

germen is evil it sounds so wierd GER A MAN your a man

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Blondesccerchic1817 · Post by **Blondesccerchic1817** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:29 am

Omg Michael. But uuhhh you could uhhh study it alot???

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michaelk1993adg · Post by **michaelk1993adg** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:32 pm

dont do it

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