Learning German

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I did German for 3 years at school but I don't remember most of it, only basic words/phrases.

It's a shame because I'd really like to be able to speak fluently in another language.
 
lizanator112890 said:
MiaCharlize said:

ei - like I
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if ei sounds like I, what does ie sound like??
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You mean as in Liebe (love) for example? That would sound like a general i in German, only the i is a bit more stretched, sort of like the y in Germany.

As for the ü sound, I learned in one of my linguistics classes that one way to teach that sound to English students would be to let them pronounce a sound like said y in Germany and then round your lips, sort of like you wanted to pronounce a u sound like in utility.
 
that is what my Oma would tell me " round your lips " lol it was funny watching her and trying to mimic her! :lol:

so the i sounds like E
 
:lol: "round your lips" the ü is pretty tricky isn't it? :p

and yep, the i sounds like E, maybe even like ee, as in bee or free...
 
MiaCharlize said:
ä doesn't exist in english so how am i suposed to explain how it sounds?
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Well, you could say ä sounds roughly like the a in 'bad'

ö can be pronounced somewhat close to ea in 'early'

but ü is difficult, can't think of anything that sounds remotely similar.

other typical German pronounciation rules:

sch - similar to sh

ß - ss

r is not rolled

eu - like oy

au - like loud

ei - like I

y - not often used in german language but it's pronounced like ü mostly (doesn't help though, seeing how we can't explain ü)

st - not like the english st but rather like sh + t

sp - same as above, sh + p


well, think that's enough for now. I imagine it's very hard to keep up with all of this.
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ü = ou from should. if I am right. in dutch it is with oe pronounced like that!
 
alright. so i know how to change the endings of the verbs and some irregulars, i know some of pronouncing, what is the next thing on the list? :D
 
ü = ou from should.
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No, actually not even close.


Let's see... maybe, as not to keep it all dry, we could learn whole sentences. German sayings for example. Or stuff you'd need for small talk? Just ask what you're eager to learn.
 
i know a little, like hi, how are you, what is your name.

this is my little convo (with an imaginary person :p )

Guten tag!
Wei geht's?
Ich bin gut.
Wie heißt sie?
Sie heißt Liz.
Woher Kommst du?
Sie ist aus Texas.


haha...

well i need to know how to say sentences with verbs and stuff, so i know how to change them correctly...
 
actually it's 'Mir geht es gut', 'Wie heisst Du?', 'Ich heiße Liz' and 'Ich komme aus Texas' (if you're talking about yourself of course)

you = Du
I = Ich
 
Hey, I'm back! And wow, so many new posts! Yes, making sentences is good. We can post important sentences and we can tell how to make sentences (subject, verb, object).
 
Oh nobody's there. Okay, that's what I found in a guidebook:

Yes/No = Ja/Nein

Perhaps/Maybe = Vielleicht

Please = Bitte

Thank you = Danke

You're welcome = Gern geschehen

Excuse me = Entschuldigung

Pardon? = Wie bitte?

I don't understand = Ich verstehe Sie/dich nicht

I only speak a little German = Ich spreche nur ein bisschen Deutsch

Can you help me please? = Können Sie mir bitte helfen? (Or if you know the person: Kannst du mir bitte helfen?)

I'd like = Ich möchte

I like this = Das gefällt mir

I don't like this = Mir gefällt das nicht

Do you have...? = Haben Sie...? (Or Hast du...?)

How much is this? = Wie viel kostet es?

What time is it? = Wie viel Uhr ist es?/ Wie spät ist es?
 
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