German ch represents two different sounds, and which one you use depends entirely on the vowel before it. Get this one rule right and a very frequent source of foreign accent disappears, since ich, nicht, mich, dich and auch are among the most common words in the language.
Two sounds
| Name | IPA | Where it is made | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich-Laut | [ç] | middle of the tongue close to the hard palate | |
| Ach-Laut | [x] (or uvular [χ]) | back of the tongue close to the soft palate |
The rule
The choice is automatic, like the choice between the two English l sounds:
- After a, o, u and au (back vowels), use the ach-laut [x]: , , , .
- Everywhere else, use the ich-laut [ç]: after i, e, ä, ö, ü, ei, eu, after consonants (l, n, r) and at the start of a word or suffix: , , , , , , , , , .
The suffix -chen is always [ç], even after a back vowel, because it is a separate part of the word: ("little woman") has [ç], while ("to smoke") has [x].
Watch the plurals. Umlaut switches the vowel from back to front, so the ch switches too: [x] → [ç]; [x] → [ç]; [x] → [ç]; [x] → [ç].
How to make the ich-laut
English has this sound, but only as a variant of /h/ before a y sound: the beginning of huge and human, said with a strong breath, is [ç]. Try these routes:
- From huge. Say huge and hold the first sound: hhhhyuge. That hiss is [ç]. Now put it after i: .
- From y. Say yes and hold the y, then whisper it forcefully without voice. The whispered y is [ç].
- From sh. Say sh, then pull your tongue tip down behind your lower teeth and spread your lips as if smiling. The friction moves back from the tip to the middle of the tongue.
The biggest mistakes are [ʃ] (making ich sound like isch, and Kirche "church" like Kirsche "cherry") and [k] (making ich sound like ick). Both change words: vs , vs , vs .
How to make the ach-laut
Start from [k]. Say k and notice where the back of your tongue touches the soft palate. Now do the same but leave a tiny gap so air rushes through: a rasping, voiceless sound, like Scottish loch or Spanish j. That is [x]: , , .
English speakers often substitute [k], so Bach sounds like back and Nacht like knackt. Keep the air flowing.
When ch is not ich or ach
- chs inside a word stem is usually [ks]: , , , . (But not across a boundary: des Buchs can be [buːxs].)
- Initial ch in loanwords varies: [k] in , , ; [ʃ] in French loans like , ; [tʃ] in English loans like . Before e and i in Greek loans, it is [ç] in northern standard and [k] in the south: , .
- sch is always [ʃ]: , . But in the word ("little mouse"), s and ch belong to different parts (Mäus + chen), so it is [s] + [ç].
The ending -ig
Standard German pronounces word-final -ig as [ɪç]: , , , , . Before a vowel the g returns: , . Speakers in southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland say [ɪk] (Könik), which is also standard in those countries.
Items in this drill: Kirche / Kirsche; Bach / back; Nacht / nackt; Loch / Lok; mich / misch; Löcher / Löscher; Strich / Strick; dich / dick; Lachen / Laken; roch / Rock.
Meanings: Kirche church / Kirsche cherry; Nacht night / nackt naked; Loch hole / Lok locomotive; Löcher holes / Löscher extinguisher; Strich line / Strick rope; dich you / dick thick; Lachen laughter / Laken sheet; roch smelled / Rock skirt.
Phrases in this drill:
- Ich möchte noch ein bisschen Milch.
- Das Mädchen liest ein Buch.
- Ich habe es dir doch gesagt.
- Sechs Kirchen und acht Nächte.
- Das ist wirklich richtig.
Frequently asked questions
Is German ich pronounced "ish" or "ick"?
Neither, in Standard German. It is [ɪç], with a soft hissing sound made by the middle of the tongue against the hard palate. Some regional accents use [ʃ] (Rhineland, "isch") or [k] (parts of the north and Switzerland in some words), but these are regional.
How is the ending -ig pronounced?
In Standard German as described by the Duden, -ig at the end of a word or before a consonant is [ɪç]: König [ˈkøːnɪç], wenig, richtig. In southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland, [ɪk] is standard. Before a vowel it is always [ɪɡ]: Könige.
Is the ach-laut the same as Scottish "loch"?
Yes, essentially. The Scottish pronunciation of loch has the same velar fricative [x]. After a and o, many German speakers move it further back, to a uvular [χ].
Sources and further reading
- Kohler, K. (1990). German. Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 20(1), 48–50.
- Wiese, R. (1996). The Phonology of German, chapter 7.2 on dorsal fricative assimilation. Oxford University Press.
- Dudenredaktion (2015). Duden – Das Aussprachewörterbuch (7th ed.), introduction, section on ch. Dudenverlag.
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