German · Difficult words
How to pronounce nichts in German
nichts
Nothing
Standard German · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
nichts is pronounced /nɪx(t)s/ in German. In nichts: Keep the back of the tongue near the soft palate and release a stream of air, as in Scottish “loch”. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in nichts
The reference transcription for nichts is /nɪx(t)s/. 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.The back ch sound /x/
In nichts: Keep the back of the tongue near the soft palate and release a stream of air, as in Scottish “loch”.
Watch out: Do not close the airflow completely as you would for k.
2.Front-vowel position
In nichts: Listen for the distinction between the closer /i/ and the more relaxed /ɪ/ when shown. Keep your tongue toward the front.
Watch out: Do not decide vowel quality from English spelling alone.
3.A clear /s/
In nichts: Let air pass through a narrow groove near the front of the mouth. Keep the sound unvoiced.
Watch out: Do not add voicing and turn /s/ into /z/.
Hear it in context
Im Kühlschrank ist nichts mehr übrig.
There's nothing left in the fridge.
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
nichts 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 nichts
How do you pronounce nichts?
nichts is pronounced /nɪx(t)s/ in German. In nichts: Keep the back of the tongue near the soft palate and release a stream of air, as in Scottish “loch”. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In nichts: Keep the back of the tongue near the soft palate and release a stream of air, as in Scottish “loch”. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
