Pronunciation of ei / ie
A1 · Beginner · Basics
The rule
ei sounds like English "eye"; ie sounds like "ee".
How it works
The combination ei is always a diphthong that glides from an "a" to an "ee" sound, like the English word "eye". The combination ie is always a long "ee" sound, like the English "see". Because the two spellings sound different, they are a good example of German spelling reflecting pronunciation closely.
When to use it
Use it whenever you read ei and ie, which are the most common vowel pairs in everyday German.
Use cases
- Reading everyday words such as Mein, Bein and Zeit (ei) or Liebe, Wiese and Tier (ie)
- Telling apart pairs such as beiß (bite) and biss (bit)
- Improving listening comprehension for numbers, such as drei and vier
Examples
- Eis – ice cream
- Liebe – love
- Mein Bein tut weh. – My leg hurts.
- Die Wiese ist grün. – The meadow is green.
- Ich lese ein Buch. – I am reading a book.
Common mistake
Reading ei as "ee" as in "see" (it sounds like the English "eye") or ie as "eye".
Memory tip
Think "ei = eye" and "ie = ee": Eis (ice) rhymes with "rice", Liebe (love) with "free".
Read the wider picture in our guide: German Pronunciation Guide for English Speakers.