Minimal pair · Standard German in Germany; stressed citation forms
German /aː/ vs /a//aː/ / /a/
Learn to hear the difference between aː and a in German words.
Practice these sounds/aː/
The aː category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As inStaat
/a/
The a category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As inStadt
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Learn to hear the difference between aː and a in German words.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordStaat
/ʃtaːt/stateRate
/ˈʁaːtə/installmentZahl
/tsaːl/numberMahl
/maːl/mealBahn
/baːn/railwayStadt
/ʃtat/cityRatte
/ˈʁatə/ratHand
/hant/handMann
/man/manTasse
/ˈtasə/cup10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.