How to Pronounce German S, Z and SCH
Know when s buzzes, when it hisses, why z is always ts, and how sch is made.
German s and z look familiar but trade places with English. An s before a vowel usually buzzes like English z, and German z is always 'ts'.
Get these two right and words like Sonne, Zeit and Zoo instantly sound German.
Tap any word to hear it.
s before a vowel buzzes [z]
An s directly before a vowel is voiced: your throat vibrates as in English 'zoo'. This is the standard in northern and central Germany.
- Put a hand on your throat: Sonne should buzz from the start.
- It also buzzes after l, n, r before a vowel: also, Insel.
- In Austria, Switzerland and southern Germany, a hissed [s] is normal.
s + vowel[z]
buzzing, like English 'zoo'
Im Sommer scheint die Sonne.
The sun shines in summer.
Hissing [s]: word end, ss and ß
At the end of a word or syllable, s hisses as in English 'bus'. Double ss and ß are always a hissed [s].
- Final s never buzzes: Haus, Glas, was.
- ss follows a short vowel, ß a long vowel or diphthong.
- When an ending adds a vowel, single s starts to buzz: Häuser.
s at the end[s]
hiss, like English 'bus'
ss and ß[s]
always a hiss, never a buzz
buzz vs hiss
vowel follows, s buzzes
z and tz are always [ts]
German z is a 't' and an 's' said as one quick sound, like 'ts' in 'cats'. It never buzzes, even at the start of a word.
- Start with the tongue in 't' position, then release into a hiss.
- tz after a short vowel is the same sound: Katze, Platz.
- -tion is also [ts]: Information.
z (anywhere)[ts]
like 'ts' in 'cats'
tz after a short vowel[ts]
same sound, marks a short vowel
-tion[tsi̯oːn]
'tsee-ohn', stressed
German z = ts, s = buzz
Jetzt ist keine Zeit für den Zoo.
There's no time for the zoo now.
sch is [ʃ]
sch is the English 'sh', with the lips pushed forward a little more. It is always one sound, never s + k.
- Round and push the lips forward, like a small kiss.
- In Häuschen, s and ch are separate: [sç], not 'sh'.
sch[ʃ]
English 'sh', lips more rounded
Common mistakes
✗ hissed “sonne”
✓ [ˈzɔnə] — buzz from the first moment
English s before a vowel is usually voiceless.
✗ “zite” with a buzzing z
✓ [tsaɪ̯t] — t and s together
The letter z looks like English z but isn't.
✗ English “zoo”
✓ [tsoː] — starts with ts
Familiar words tempt you back into English.
✗ “Hoysh-en” with sh
✓ [ˈhɔʏ̯sçən] — s, then soft ch
Here s and ch belong to different parts.
How to practise
- Hand on throat: say Sonne, sagen, sehen and feel each buzz.
- Say 'cats, cats, ts, ts', then Zeit, zehn, Zug.
- Alternate Zoo – so and Zeit – seit until the difference is automatic.
- Read reisen – reißen five times: buzz, hiss, buzz, hiss.
Questions learners ask
Why is the German s pronounced like a z?
Standard German voices s before a vowel, so Sonne starts with a buzz. At the end of a word it hisses as in English.
How do you pronounce z in German?
Always as 'ts', like the end of 'cats'. Zoo sounds like 'tsoh', and zehn like 'tsayn'.
Do Austrians say s like z?
Mostly not. In Austria, Switzerland and southern Germany, s before a vowel is usually a soft hiss.