MinimalPairs
Lessons

Minimal pair · Standard German in Germany; stressed citation forms

German /aː/ vs /eː//aː/ / /eː/

Learn to hear the difference between aː and eː in German words.

Practice these sounds
/aː/

The aː category

Listen for the target sound in each word.

As inMahl
/eː/

The eː category

Listen for the target sound in each word.

As inMehl

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

Learn to hear the difference between aː and eː in German words.

Listen for the target sound in each word.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word
Mahl
/maːl/meal
Staat
/ʃtaːt/state
Rate
/ˈʁaːtə/installment
Zahl
/tsaːl/number
Bahn
/baːn/railway
Mehl
/meːl/flour
Beet
/beːt/garden bed
lesen
/ˈleːzən/to read
beten
/ˈbeːtən/to pray
Sehne
/ˈzeːnə/tendon
Steg
/ʃteːk/footbridge

11 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.

Now, let your ears decide.

Can you hear the difference? Listen to two examples, then decide which sound you hear in a new word. Get feedback after every answer.

Practice these sounds

Keep the sound. Change the word.

Learn to hear the difference between aː and eː in German words.

Explore all German contrasts
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