German · Difficult words
How to pronounce Geburtstag in German
Geburtstag
Birthday
Standard German · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
Geburtstag is pronounced /ɡəˈbuːɐ̯t͡sˌtaːk/ in German. In Geburtstag: Make a short t closure and release it straight into s, as at the end of English “cats”. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in Geburtstag
Read Geburtstag in these IPA segments: ɡə · ˈbuːɐ̯t͡s · ˌtaːk. Dots and stress marks identify the boundaries shown in the reference; these symbols are not English spelling. The mark /ˈ/ comes immediately before the main stressed syllable. Give that syllable a little more prominence without swallowing the others.
1.The joined /ts/ sound
In Geburtstag: Make a short t closure and release it straight into s, as at the end of English “cats”.
Watch out: Do not read German z as the voiced z in English “zoo”.
2.The reduced r vowel /ɐ/
In Geburtstag: Let the ending relax into a short central vowel. The IPA /ɐ/ represents a vowel, rather than a strongly pronounced consonant r.
Watch out: Avoid adding a full English “er” with a curled tongue.
3.Back rounded vowels
In Geburtstag: Round your lips and keep the tongue toward the back. Follow the closer /u/ or more relaxed /ʊ/ quality written in the IPA.
Watch out: Avoid inserting a y sound before the vowel unless the IPA includes /j/.
Hear it in context
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, liebe Anna!
Happy birthday, dear Anna!
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
Geburtstag is presented using Standard German. Regional accents and connected speech can change details. The isolated word and the example let you compare the dictionary form with a short spoken context.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Meaning and everyday use
Questions about Geburtstag
How do you pronounce Geburtstag?
Geburtstag is pronounced /ɡəˈbuːɐ̯t͡sˌtaːk/ in German. In Geburtstag: Make a short t closure and release it straight into s, as at the end of English “cats”. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In Geburtstag: Make a short t closure and release it straight into s, as at the end of English “cats”. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
