German · Difficult words
How to pronounce neun in German
neun
Nine
Standard German · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
neun is pronounced /nɔʏ̯n/ in German. In neun: Round the lips while keeping the tongue forward. Hear the difference between the closer /y, ø/ and the more open /ʏ, œ/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in neun
The reference transcription for neun is /nɔʏ̯n/. Read adjacent consonants together without inserting extra vowels. Listen for the vowel quality and timing in the full recording; this reference does not mark a separate main stress.
1.Rounded front vowels
In neun: Round the lips while keeping the tongue forward. Hear the difference between the closer /y, ø/ and the more open /ʏ, œ/.
Watch out: Replacing these with English “oo” or “oh” loses the front-vowel quality.
2.The open /ɔ/ vowel
In neun: Round the lips and keep a relatively open jaw. Sustain one vowel rather than moving toward a w sound.
Watch out: English “oh” often moves during the vowel; follow the steadier sound in the recording.
Hear it in context
Ich beginne um neun.
I start at nine.
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
neun 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 neun
How do you pronounce neun?
neun is pronounced /nɔʏ̯n/ in German. In neun: Round the lips while keeping the tongue forward. Hear the difference between the closer /y, ø/ and the more open /ʏ, œ/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In neun: Round the lips while keeping the tongue forward. Hear the difference between the closer /y, ø/ and the more open /ʏ, œ/. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
