MinimalPairs
Lessons

Minimal pair · Standard German in Germany; stressed citation forms

German /uː/ vs /yː//uː/ / /yː/

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

Practice these sounds
/uː/

The uː category

Listen for the target sound in each word.

As inSud
/yː/

The yː category

Listen for the target sound in each word.

As inSüd

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

A small change.
A different word.

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

Listen for the target sound in each word.

Sound examples

Tap to hear each word
Sud
/zuːt/brew or cooking liquid
spulen
/ˈʃpuːlən/to wind onto a spool
Muße
/ˈmuːsə/leisure
Muse
/ˈmuːzə/muse; source of inspiration
spuken
/ˈʃpuːkən/to haunt
Mus
/muːs/purée
Stuhl
/ʃtuːl/chair
Süd
/zyːt/south
spülen
/ˈʃpyːlən/to rinse
fühlen
/ˈfyːlən/to feel
Hüte
/ˈhyːtə/hats
lügen
/ˈlyːɡən/to tell lies
Bühne
/ˈbyːnə/stage

13 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 yː in German words.

Explore all German contrasts
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