The German Glottal Stop: Fresh Starts on Vowels
Start every vowel-initial word and word part with a light catch, stop linking words English-style, and keep it soft, not harsh.
German gives every word that begins with a vowel a clean new start: a tiny catch in the throat called the glottal stop [ʔ]. It's the break in English 'uh-oh'.
English glides words together (an‿apple sounds like 'a napple'); German keeps them apart. That's the 'choppy' rhythm you hear, and it makes words easier to recognize.
Tap any word to hear it.
A fresh start on every vowel
Before a vowel at the start of a word, briefly close your throat and release it into the vowel. Think 'uh-oh': that catch is [ʔ].
- Close the throat for a split second, then let the vowel pop.
- It is not written; predict it from a vowel at the start.
- Words starting with h get [h], not [ʔ]: Hand, not 'and'.
vowel at the start of a word[ʔ]
the catch in 'uh-oh'
Es ist acht Uhr.
It's eight o'clock.
Oma isst immer Obst.
Grandma always eats fruit.
No linking between words
Never slide the last consonant of one word into the next word's vowel. Say am | Abend, not 'a-mabend'.
- A tiny catch, not a pause: keep the phrase flowing.
- Especially after short words: am, im, ein, mit, um.
consonant + vowel across words[ʔ]
restart the vowel; don't carry the consonant over
Wir treffen uns am Abend.
We're meeting in the evening.
Ich esse einen Apfel.
I'm eating an apple.
Um elf Uhr ist alles in Ordnung.
At eleven o'clock everything is fine.
Inside words: after prefixes and in compounds
The catch also comes inside a word when a new part starts with a vowel: after prefixes like be-, er-, ver- and between compound parts.
- Split the word where the parts join: be | antworten.
- Compounds: each part keeps its own start, Wochen | ende.
prefix + vowel[ʔ]
short break right after the prefix
compound part starting with a vowel[ʔ]
restart as if it's a new word
Spiegel | Ei, not 'Spiege-lei'
r versus a glottal catch
ende keeps its fresh start
Bitte beantworten Sie die Frage.
Please answer the question.
Ich kann mich nicht erinnern.
I can't remember.
Am Wochenende esse ich ein Spiegelei.
On the weekend I have a fried egg.
Light, not harsh
The catch is quick and light, never a cough. In fast, relaxed speech it often softens to a slightly creaky start, but the vowel still isn't glued to the word before.
- Stressed words and careful speech get the clearest catch.
- Southern German, Austrian and Swiss speakers link more; both are fine.
- Too much force sounds aggressive: keep your throat relaxed.
careful or stressed[ʔ]
a clean, quick catch
fast, relaxed speech[ʔ ~ a̰]
a creaky restart is enough
Achtung, der Zug fährt ab!
Attention, the train is leaving!
Ab acht Uhr ist alles offen.
Everything is open from eight o'clock.
Common mistakes
✗ “a-mah-bent”, linked together
✓ [ʔam ˈʔaːbn̩t] — fresh start on each vowel
Linking hides where German words begin.
✗ “bean-tvor-ten”, like English 'bean'
✓ [bəˈʔantvɔʁtn̩] — be | antworten
be- is a prefix; antworten starts fresh.
✗ “shpee-ge-lie”
✓ [ˈʃpiːɡl̩ʔaɪ̯] — Spiegel | Ei
Ei is its own word inside the compound.
✗ a hard cough before the vowel
✓ a light, quick catch
The stop is tiny; overdoing it sounds aggressive.
How to practise
- Say 'uh-oh' slowly and feel the catch in your throat.
- Read 'am Abend' with a tiny restart before each vowel.
- Clap at the joints: Wochen | ende, Spiegel | ei, be | antworten.
- Count eins, acht, elf aloud with a fresh start each time.
Questions learners ask
What is the glottal stop in German?
A quick closure of the vocal cords before a vowel that starts a word or word part, like the break in English 'uh-oh'. It keeps German words from running together.
Is the glottal stop written in German?
No, there is no letter for it. Predict it before any vowel at the start of a word, a stem or a compound part.
Do all Germans use the glottal stop?
It's strongest in northern and standard German. Southern German, Austrian and Swiss speakers often link words more smoothly, and both are understood.