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Courses from A1 to B2: short video lessons, quizzes and printable charts for every topic, in the right order.
See the coursesThe German ch sound pronunciation trips up nearly every learner at some point. Unlike English, where "ch" always sounds like "church," German uses two distinct ch sounds depending on the surrounding vowels. Once you understand the rule, it becomes automatic. This guide breaks down both sounds with plenty of examples so you can practice right away.
German has two main ch sounds: the ich-Laut (soft ch) and the ach-Laut (hard ch). The rule that determines which one to use is straightforward and has almost no exceptions.
The ich-Laut appears after front vowels (e, i, ae, oe, ue) and after consonants. It sounds like a gentle hiss, similar to the first sound in English "huge" or the sound a cat makes. Your tongue presses lightly against the roof of your mouth, just behind where you would say "y" in "yes."
Examples with phonetic hints:
The trick: place your tongue where you would say "y" in "yes," then push air through without vibrating your vocal cords.
The ach-Laut appears after back vowels (a, o, u) and after "au." It is produced in the back of the throat, similar to the Scottish "loch" or the Spanish "j" in "jota." Your tongue rises toward the soft palate and air passes through the narrow gap.
Examples with phonetic hints:
The trick: say "k" very slowly and stop halfway. You should feel air flowing continuously rather than a hard stop.
The short answer: it depends on the vowel before it.
After e, i, ae, oe, ue, or any consonant -- use the soft ich-Laut. Place your tongue forward, near the hard palate, and let air hiss through gently.
After a, o, u, or au -- use the hard ach-Laut. Move your tongue back toward the soft palate and produce a throaty friction sound.
Here is the rule in a table:
| Preceding sound | Ch type | Example | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| e | ich-Laut | Pech (bad luck) | PESH |
| i | ich-Laut | sich (oneself) | ZISH |
| ae (a-umlaut) | ich-Laut | Gespraech (conversation) | geh-SHPRESH |
| oe (o-umlaut) | ich-Laut | Koeche (cooks, plural) | KUU-sheh |
| ue (u-umlaut) | ich-Laut | Kueche (kitchen) | KUU-sheh |
| consonant | ich-Laut | Milch (milk) | MILSH |
| a | ach-Laut | Dach (roof) | DAHKH |
| o | ach-Laut | Loch (hole) | LOKH |
| u | ach-Laut | Geruch (smell) | geh-ROOKH |
| au | ach-Laut | Rauch (smoke) | ROWKH |
There is one notable exception: the suffix -chen (diminutive) always uses the ich-Laut regardless of what comes before it. So Maedchen (girl), Haeschen (bunny), and Kaetzchen (kitten) all use the soft ch.
The difference is where in your mouth the sound is produced.
The ich-Laut is a palatal fricative. Your tongue pushes up toward the hard palate (the front part of the roof of your mouth). Air flows through the narrow space between your tongue and palate. It sounds light, sharp, and hissy.
The ach-Laut is a velar fricative. Your tongue rises toward the velum (the soft part at the back of the roof of your mouth). Air flows through the space between your tongue and the soft palate. It sounds deeper, throatier, and rougher.
A practical test: say "ich" and "ach" one after another. Notice how your tongue moves forward for "ich" and backward for "ach." That tongue position is the entire difference.
Minimal pairs to practice:
In some words, particularly those borrowed from Greek, "ch" before a, o, or at the beginning of words can sound like "k":
And at the start of some words, particularly in southern German dialects, "ch" can sound almost like a "sh":
Try reading these aloud, paying attention to which ch sound you use:
Reading about pronunciation only gets you so far. The real progress comes from speaking out loud and getting feedback. Try the Speech Champion game on Deutschwunder to practice your ch sounds with instant pronunciation feedback.
For a deeper dive into German sounds, check out our German CH Sound Pronunciation breakdown, the full German Pronunciation Guide, and our German Alphabet Pronunciation reference.
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Explore more: German CH Sound Pronunciation · German Pronunciation Guide · German Alphabet Pronunciation