In German there are
- like in English - long and short vowels. Have a look
at these examples.
 |
short vowel |
|
|
long vowel |
|
| |
offen |
|
open |
 |
|
Ofen |
|
oven |
|
| Ass |
ace |
|
|
Aas |
carrion |
|
| Suppe |
soup |
|
|
super |
super |
|
| Bett |
bed |
|
|
Beet |
flowerbed |
|
| Widder |
Aries |
|
|
wieder |
again |
|
|
Do you hear the differences? In the pairs of offen/Ofen,
Ass/Aas, Bett/Beet, wieder/Widder there is only one
difference, the vowel is either short or long. The meaning
is totally different. Therefore it has a certain importance
to know the differences. In written language the long
and short vowels are marked in certain ways:
|
Wiese |
|
meadow |
|
| liegen |
|
to lie down |
|
| wiegen |
to weigh |
|
|
| Be careful!
Sometimes a ie is pronounced differently. |
| 3.2.8.3
an h after a vowel means it is a long vowel |
|
die
Ahnen |
|
anscestors |
|
| |
etwas
ahnen |
|
to suspect |
|
|
| The
same with o |
|
| The
same with e |
|
ehrlich |
|
honesto |
|
| |
Ehre |
|
honor |
|
|
| 3.2.8.4
Without any indication |
there
are many words that do not have any indication whether
the vowel is long or short.
|
Schaf |
|
sheep |
|
| Laden |
|
shop |
|
| Frage |
question |
|
|
| 3.2.8.5
If after the vowel is an ß
then the vowel is long (see 3.2.6) |
|
Straße |
|
street |
|
| Stoß |
|
hit, push |
|
| Muße |
leisure |
|
|
| 3.2.8.6
Two consonants after a vowel may indicate a short
vowel |
|
immer |
|
always |
|
| essen |
|
eat |
|
| Pass |
passport |
|
| müssen |
to must |
|
|
| 
