OLD

MODERN

EXAMPLES

REMARKS

b

p

Probst>Propst

Following a vowel, b and p are both voiceless.
 

c

k

Commissar>Kommissar

Common in words of Latin origin before a, o, and u
 

c

z

Centner>Zentner

Common in words of Latin origin before vowels e and i
 

ch

K

Churfürst>Kurfürst

Seen in 17th-century documents
 

ck, ckh

k

Tagwerckh>Tagwerk

The h was used more often in the 17th century
 

dt

t, d

Brodt>Brot
Feldt>Feld

Both consonants are unvoiced at the end of a syllable
 

e

ä

Mer(t)z>März
Beck>Bäcker

These two vowels are pronounced the same in many German-speaking areas.
 

eu

ei

Heurath>Heirat

Reflects dialect pronunciation (hoy>high)
 

ey, ay

ei, ai

Baiern>Bayern
Heyrath>Heirat
zwey>zwei

All four of these diphthongs are pronounced the same (rhyme with English eye)
 

g

ch

Mädgen>Mädchen

Reflects dialect pronunciation
 

ß (=ss)

s

Hanß>Hans
Haußfrau>Hausfrau

Occurs only after the vowel or at the end of a syllable
 

th

t

Thür>Tür, Wirth>Wirt

German th is prounounced like t
 

tz

z

Mertz>März
Frantz>Franz

German z is pronounced like tz (as in Mozart)
 

ü

i

Hülfe>Hilfe

© Ann C. Sherwin 2002

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Ann C. Sherwin / German Translation Service
1918 Medfield Rd., Raleigh, NC 27607 / phone 919-851-9281