In German there are
- like in English - long and short vowels. Have a look
at these examples.
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. |
|
Patient |
|
patient (person) |
|
|
| 3.2.8.3
an h after a vowel means it is a long vowel |
|
|
| The
same with o |
|
| The
same with e |
|
| 3.2.8.4
Without any indication |
| there
are many words that do not have any indication whether
the vowel is long or short.
|
| 3.2.8.5
If after the vowel is an ß
then the vowel is long (see 3.2.6) |
| 3.2.8.6
Two consonants after a vowel may indicate a short
vowel |
| 
