German · Difficult words

How to pronounce Onkel in German

Onkel

Uncle

AWNGKUHL/ˈɔŋkəl/

Standard German · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.

Onkel is pronounced /ˈɔŋkəl/ in German. In Onkel: Round the lips and keep a relatively open jaw. Sustain one vowel rather than moving toward a w sound. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.

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Find the sounds in Onkel

The reference transcription for Onkel is /ˈɔŋkəl/. Read adjacent consonants together without inserting extra vowels. The mark /ˈ/ comes immediately before the main stressed syllable. Give that syllable a little more prominence without swallowing the others.

  1. 1.The open /ɔ/ vowel

    In Onkel: 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

Mein Onkel bringt den Kuchen.

My uncle is bringing the cake.

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

Onkel 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 Onkel

How do you pronounce Onkel?

Onkel is pronounced /ˈɔŋkəl/ in German. In Onkel: Round the lips and keep a relatively open jaw. Sustain one vowel rather than moving toward a w sound. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.

What should I listen for first?

In Onkel: Round the lips and keep a relatively open jaw. Sustain one vowel rather than moving toward a w sound. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.

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