MinimalPairs
Lessons

Minimal pair · Standard German in Germany; stressed citation forms

German /ʊ/ vs /ʏ//ʊ/ / /ʏ/

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

Practice these sounds
/ʊ/

A near-close, rounded vowel

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

As inmusste
/ʏ/

A front, rounded vowel

The vowel in this German set is farther forward than /ʊ/. It does not add another syllable.

As inmüsste

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

Musste/müsste and wurde/würde contrast ordinary grammatical forms. Mutter/Mütter shows the same short rounded-vowel difference in a singular/plural pair.

Listen for the target sound in each word.

A common trap

An umlaut is not an extra syllable. Both members keep the same stress and number of syllables.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word
musste
/ˈmʊstə/had to
wurde
/ˈvʊʁdə/became; was
Mutter
/ˈmʊtɐ/mother
spucken
/ˈʃpʊkən/to spit
muss
/mʊs/must
müsste
/ˈmʏstə/would have to
würde
/ˈvʏʁdə/would
Mütter
/ˈmʏtɐ/mothers
füllen
/ˈfʏlən/to fill
Hütte
/ˈhʏtə/hut

10 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.

Alternate the three pairs so you do not associate the vowel only with one familiar ending.

Explore all German contrasts
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