Diphthonge (ei, au, eu)
Diphthongs (ei, au, eu/äu)
German has 3 diphthongs: ei/ai = /aɪ/ (like 'eye'), au = /aʊ/ (like 'cow'), eu/äu = /ɔʏ/ (like 'boy'). The #1 confusion: 'ei' = /aɪ/ (like 'eye') and 'ie' = /iː/ (like 'ee'). They are NOT the same! eu and äu always sound identical.
Sounds
| IPA | Beispiel | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ei /aɪ/ | Eis | ice |
| ai /aɪ/ | Mai | May |
| au /aʊ/ | Haus | house |
| eu /ɔʏ/ | heute | today |
Minimal Pairs
Bein
leg
Biene
bee (ei vs ie!)
Haus
house
Häuser
houses (au→äu)
Tips
ei = 'eye'. ie = 'ee'. This is the #1 confusion for learners. Drill it!
eu and äu always sound identical: /ɔʏ/. Häuser = Hoyzer.
Common Mistakes
Confusing 'ei' with 'ie'
Pronouncing 'eu' as two separate vowels
Related Sounds
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