Minimal pair · Standard German in Germany; stressed citation forms
German /eː/ vs /ɛ//eː/ / /ɛ/
Learn to hear the difference between eː and ɛ in German words.
Practice these sounds/eː/
The eː category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As inBeet
/ɛ/
An open-mid, unrounded vowel
The tongue is toward the front, with a more open vowel position than /e/.
As inBett
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Learn to hear the difference between eː and ɛ in German words.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordBeet
/beːt/garden bedbeten
/ˈbeːtən/to praylesen
/ˈleːzən/to readSehne
/ˈzeːnə/tendonSteg
/ʃteːk/footbridgeMehl
/meːl/flourBett
/bɛt/bedbetten
/ˈbɛtən/to lay or bed downkennen
/ˈkɛnən/to knowhell
/hɛl/brightfest
/fɛst/firm11 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.