Letters b, d, g, p, t, k are pretty much the same as English, but there are exceptions. When b, d, g is at the end of the syllable it changes to p, t, k respectively.
b to p: (abheben) is pronounced as apheben
d to t: (sind) is pronounced as sint
g to k: (tag) is pronounced as tak
When an h follows a vowel it’s silent. You can see this in words like (gehen) and (sehen)
Here are some other pointers:
German v is pronounced like an English f : (der Vater) is pronounced as der Fater
German w is pronounced like an English v : (das Wunder) is pronounced as das Vunder
German z is pronounced like a ts : (die Zeit) is pronounced as die Tsite
Here are some consonant clusters that you might come across:
ck is pronounced as k : (der Schock) is pronounced as der Shock
ch is the ch in the word loch as in the loch ness monster : (mich)
pf is pronounced with both consonants : (das Pferd)
ph is pronounced as f : (das Alphabet) is pronounced as das Alfabet
qu is pronounced as kv : (die Qual) is pronounced as die Kval
sch is pronounced as sh : (die Schule) is pronounced as die Shule
sp and st is pronounced as shp and sht respectively : (sprechen) is pronounced as shprechen. (der Stephanstag) is pronounced as der Shtephanstag
th is pronounced as an English t : (das Theater) is pronounced as das Teater
Wanna hear these sounds, try the German Byki series.
