Sound-Spelling and Pronunciation in German
Practise common German sound-spelling patterns that support WJEC listening, reading and oracy.
Practise it out loud, together
A free interactive activity you can put in front of a class in a few minutes.
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German sound-spelling
Sound-spelling helps with listening, reading aloud and accurate written responses. This module uses common German patterns that learners meet constantly.
Key German
Match the spelling pattern to its usual sound.
Similar spellings
ei and ie are easy to mix up, but they sound different.
Check the meaning
Which option means the sh sound?
- sch
- ei
- ie
- z
Match German to meaning
- sch
- ei
- ie
- z
- the sh sound
- sounds like eye
- a long ee sound
- often sounds like ts
Listen with your eyes
German spelling is more regular than English, so spotting sch, ei and ie gives useful listening clues.
Complete the notes
The pattern _____ sounds like sh. The pattern _____ sounds like eye. The pattern _____ gives a long ee sound. The letter _____ often sounds like ts.
Order the check
Use this order when decoding an unfamiliar German word.
- Look for sound patterns
- Split the word into chunks
- Say each chunk
- Check the meaning from context
Hear the patterns inside a sentence
The patterns are easier to hear inside a whole sentence. Read these two aloud, watching for sch, ei, ie and the ß:
ei and ie sound different
ei and ie sound different. In which sentence does the ei pattern appear?
- Ich heiße Anna
- Die Schule ist schön
- Der Sport ist gut
- Sieben Schulen
Two accurate choices
Which TWO statements are accurate?
- sch usually gives a sh sound.
- ei sounds like eye.
- ie sounds like eye.
- z is always silent.
Spot the evidence
Tap the TWO correct sound-spelling statements.
- sch = sh
- ie = long ee
- ei = silent
- z = always silent
Decode the pattern
Choose the sound clue.
- The word starts Schule.
- The word is mein.
- The word is sieben.
Explain sound-spelling
Explain how sound-spelling helps in German listening and reading aloud.
- Name two patterns
- Give a German example for one pattern
- Explain why this helps comprehension