Language
German
Unit
Konsonanten
IPA
/l/
Practice words
5

Sample pronunciation audio

Start with one sample audio file for laterale - /l/.

Quick tip

Laterals are made by letting air flow along the sides of the tongue.

Letters and IPA

Letters

l

/l/

Practice words

  • leben

  • lang

  • Licht

  • lernen

  • Liebe

Minimal pairs

  • Lehre / Leere
  • Licht / nicht
  • Lamm / Kamm
  • Lust / Wust
  • Lied / Bied

How to produce this sound

Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge just behind your upper front teeth and let the air flow around the sides of your tongue, as in the English 'l' in 'love'.

Common mix-ups

  • Lehre / Leere
  • Licht / nicht
  • Lamm / Lamm
  • Lust / Lust
  • Lied / Lied

Closest comparison

love, long, light, life, look

Keep exploring

Previous Nasale - /ŋ/ Konsonanten Next Vibranten - /r/ Konsonanten