German · Difficult words
How to pronounce zwanzig in German
zwanzig
Twenty
Standard German; reference: standard · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
zwanzig is pronounced /ˈtsvantsɪç/ in German. In zwanzig: Raise the tongue toward the hard palate and let air flow through a narrow gap. The sound is light and unvoiced. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in zwanzig
The reference transcription for zwanzig is /ˈtsvantsɪç/. 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.The ich sound /ç/
In zwanzig: Raise the tongue toward the hard palate and let air flow through a narrow gap. The sound is light and unvoiced.
Watch out: English sh uses a different tongue position. Do not replace /ç/ with k.
2.The joined /ts/ sound
In zwanzig: 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”.
3.Front-vowel position
In zwanzig: 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.
Hear it in context
Er wird nächsten Monat zwanzig.
He turns twenty next month.
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
zwanzig 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 zwanzig
How do you pronounce zwanzig?
zwanzig is pronounced /ˈtsvantsɪç/ in German. In zwanzig: Raise the tongue toward the hard palate and let air flow through a narrow gap. The sound is light and unvoiced. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In zwanzig: Raise the tongue toward the hard palate and let air flow through a narrow gap. The sound is light and unvoiced. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
