Language
German
Unit
Konsonanten
IPA
/ç/
Practice words
5

Sample pronunciation audio

Start with one sample audio file for frikative - /ç/.

Quick tip

Fricatives are produced by forcing air through a narrow gap, creating friction.

Letters and IPA

Letters

ch (nach i, e, ä, ö, ü, l, n, r)

/ç/

Practice words

  • ich

  • nicht

  • Milch

  • Licht

  • welche

Minimal pairs

  • ich / ach
  • Licht / lacht
  • nicht / Nacht
  • Milch / Malsch
  • welche / Welle

How to produce this sound

Place the middle of your tongue close to the roof of your mouth, just behind your hard palate, and blow air out. It is softer than the 'ch' in 'Bach' and does not exist in English.

Common mix-ups

  • ich / ach
  • Milch / Malsch
  • Licht / Lacht
  • nicht / Nacht
  • welche / Welle

Closest comparison

This is a new sound in German. Closest: 'hue' (as in 'hue'), but not the same.

Keep exploring

Previous Frikative - /x/ Konsonanten Next Frikative - /h/ Konsonanten