MinimalPairs
Lessons

Minimal pair · Standard German in Germany; stressed citation forms

German /uː/ vs /ʊ//uː/ / /ʊ/

Learn to hear the difference between uː and ʊ in German words.

Practice these sounds
/uː/

The uː category

Listen for the target sound in each word.

As inspuken
/ʊ/

A near-close, rounded vowel

Listen to the vowel quality in these complete words. Spelling or duration alone will not identify it.

As inspucken

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

Learn to hear the difference between uː and ʊ in German words.

Listen for the target sound in each word.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word
spuken
/ˈʃpuːkən/to haunt
Mus
/muːs/purée
Muße
/ˈmuːsə/leisure
Muse
/ˈmuːzə/muse; source of inspiration
spulen
/ˈʃpuːlən/to wind onto a spool
Stuhl
/ʃtuːl/chair
Sud
/zuːt/brew or cooking liquid
spucken
/ˈʃpʊkən/to spit
muss
/mʊs/must
musste
/ˈmʊstə/had to
wurde
/ˈvʊʁdə/became; was
Mutter
/ˈmʊtɐ/mother

12 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 uː and ʊ in German words.

Explore all German contrasts
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