Minimal pair · Standard German in Germany; stressed citation forms

German /iː/ vs /yː//iː/ / /yː/

Learn to hear the difference between iː and yː in German words.

Practice these sounds

/iː/

A close, long vowel

This German vowel differs in quality as well as length from /ɪ/.

As inliegen

/yː/

The yː category

Listen for the target sound in each word.

As inlügen

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

Learn to hear the difference between iː and yː in German words.

Listen for the target sound in each word.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word

liegen

/ˈliːɡən/to lie in a position

Biene

/ˈbiːnə/bee

bieten

/ˈbiːtən/offer

Miete

/ˈmiːtə/rent

schief

/ʃiːf/crooked

Ziel

/tsiːl/target

stieg

/ʃtiːk/climbed, past tense

Stiel

/ʃtiːl/stalk or handle

lügen

/ˈlyːɡən/to tell lies

Bühne

/ˈbyːnə/stage

fühlen

/ˈfyːlən/to feel

Hüte

/ˈhyːtə/hats

spülen

/ˈʃpyːlən/to rinse

Süd

/zyːt/south

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

Keep the sound. Change the word.

Learn to hear the difference between iː and yː in German words.

Explore all German contrasts

A close, long vowel

The yː category

A small change. A different word.

Sound examples

Now, let your ears decide.

Keep the sound. Change the word.

A small change.
A different word.