German spelling is fairly regular, yet learners still trip on the same handful of sounds: the rounded umlauts in müde and schön, the two versions of ch in ich and Bach, the hard ending on Hund, and the difference between a long vowel in Staat and a short one in Stadt. Upload or record yourself reading German and the AI checks those sounds word by word. You get an overall accuracy rating, a list of specific errors with phonetic transcription showing what you said next to the standard form, notes on stress and sentence melody, and a short description of your accent, including any regional or native-language influence. Each problem comes with a concrete exercise, so your next practice session targets what actually needs work.
Example result
Input
A 45-second recording of an English-speaking A2 learner reading a short paragraph about a weekend trip to Munich.
Output
Overall: understandable, with a noticeable English accent concentrated in the vowels. Umlauts: "für" came out as [fɪɐ] instead of [fyːɐ]. Round your lips as for "oo" while saying "ee". "schön" was close but slightly unrounded. ch sounds: "München" used a hard [k] in place of the soft [ç]. "Nacht" was correct with [x]. Final devoicing: "Wald" ended in a voiced [d]; standard German gives [valt]. Vowel length: "Stadt" was stretched to sound like "Staat". Keep the a short before double consonants. Stress and intonation: word stress was accurate. Questions rose correctly, though statements also rose at the end, which sounds hesitant. Practice: minimal pairs (Kiste/Küste, lesen/lösen) and whispering "ich" until no k is heard.
Scores
How it works
How German Pronunciation Checker works
- 01
Read German out loud
Sign in, open the checker and record in your browser or upload a clip. A known text such as a textbook paragraph or a short news item gives the clearest feedback. You can choose which AI model analyzes it.
- 02
Vowels and umlauts
The AI listens for whether ü and ö are rounded rather than flattened into i or e, whether ä is kept apart from e where it matters, and whether vowel length is right, as in Miete versus Mitte.
- 03
Consonants and word endings
It checks the palatal ich-Laut against the throaty ach-Laut, the German r, the ts in Zeit, clusters like pf and schw, and final devoicing, so Tag should end in k and Rad in t.
- 04
Stress, melody and a practice plan
Finally it reviews word stress (usually on the first syllable, with exceptions like Musik) and sentence intonation, marks each word as clear or unclear, and ranks what to fix first.
Use cases
Who it is for
Self-study learners using apps
Vocabulary apps rarely tell you why a word sounds off. Record the sentences from your lesson and see whether it is your umlauts, your ch or your vowel length that needs attention.
Goethe or telc exam candidates
Before the speaking part of a B1 or B2 exam, rehearse a short monologue and check that pronunciation problems are not making otherwise correct German hard to follow.
People moving to Germany, Austria or Switzerland
Practice the phrases you will use at the Bürgeramt, the doctor or a job interview, and learn how your accent comes across to native listeners.
Singers and actors with German text
Check lieder, opera or stage lines for clean final consonants and correct vowel length before a coaching session.
Tips
Get better results
- Read a text you have in writing, so the report can compare your words with what you meant to say.
- Include words with ü, ö, ä and both kinds of ch; a passage with none of them tells you little.
- Speak at your normal pace. Slowing down for the recording hides the vowel-length and linking problems that show up in real conversation.
- Record in a quiet room with the microphone close, since hiss can mask the soft ich sound.
Limitations
What it can't tell you
The feedback is an AI estimate based on one recording, measured against standard German (Hochdeutsch). Regional pronunciations that are perfectly normal in Bavaria, Austria or Switzerland may be flagged as differences, so treat those notes as information rather than errors. The report does not certify a language level and is not an official exam score. Background noise and a low-quality microphone can cause sounds to be misheard.
Frequently Asked Questions
German Pronunciation Checker questions
How do I pronounce German umlauts correctly?
For ü, say "ee" and then round your lips tightly as if whistling, without moving your tongue. For ö, do the same starting from "eh". The ä usually sounds like the e in "bed". Record words such as über, Tür, hören and Käse, and the checker will tell you whether your lips are rounding enough.
What is the difference between the ich and ach sounds?
After e, i, ä, ö, ü and consonants, ch is a soft hiss made with the tongue raised toward the hard palate, as in ich or Milch. After a, o, u and au, it moves to the back of the mouth, as in Bach or Buch. Learners often replace both with k or sh, and the report flags each case.
Why does German change d to t at the end of a word?
This is final devoicing: b, d and g lose their voicing at the end of a word or syllable, so Hund sounds like "hunt" and Tag ends in a k sound. English speakers tend to keep the voiced sound. The checker lists every word where your ending did not devoice.
Is this a German pronunciation test with a grade?
You get scores from 0 to 100 for areas such as overall accuracy, vowels, consonants and intonation, but they are practice indicators rather than a CEFR level. Use them to compare your own recordings over time.
Can it tell me how to pronounce German words I do not know?
It works from your recording, so the best approach is to attempt the word and let the report show the standard pronunciation next to yours in phonetic notation. For listening to a word before trying it, a dictionary with native audio is a good companion.
Which account do I need?
The checker is part of the paid AI toolset: pick a plan on the pricing page, and each analysis draws on your monthly credits.
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German Pronunciation Checker uses credits from a paid LindaleAI plan. See pricing