How to Pronounce German Ü (yː) — Umlaut Guide
Learn to pronounce the German ü sound /yː/ as in 'über', 'grün', and 'Tür'. Lip rounding technique with step-by-step practice.
yː
EXAMPLE WORDS
über
grün
Tür
fünf
Hüte
COMMON MISTAKES
- Pronouncing ü as /uː/ (like 'oo' in 'moon')
- Not rounding lips while keeping tongue forward
- Confusing long ü with short ü
MOST CHALLENGING FOR
English speakersSpanish speakersArabic speakers
STEP-BY-STEP PRACTICE
1isolated
üüü
/yː/
Say 'ee' (like in 'see') but round your lips as if saying 'oo'. Keep your tongue high and forward.
2word
über
/ˈyːbɐ/
Start with rounded 'ee' lips.
3word
grün
/ɡʁyːn/
The ü is in the middle — round your lips for it.
4minimal pair
Hüte — Hütte
/ˈhyːtə / ˈhʏtə/
Long ü vs short ü. 'Hüte' holds the sound longer.
5word
Tür
/tyːɐ̯/
Start with T, then round your lips for the long ü.
6short phrase
Fünf grüne Türen
/fʏnf ˈɡʁyːnə ˈtyːʁən/
Multiple ü sounds — keep those lips rounded!
RELATED DRILLS
Practice this sound with AI feedback
Record yourself, get instant analysis, and track your improvement over time.
Start Practicing