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Ie and ei: order changes the sound

Read Liebe and Wein, then meet eu and äu.

Ie usually spells a long i

In Liebe, sieben and Biene, ie is /iː/, one long vowel like English ee. This is the common pattern, not a promise for every loanword: Familie has a different ending.

ie

long i

Ei is a diphthong

Ei in Wein and mein moves between two vowel positions: /aɪ̯/, roughly English eye. Eu and äu both give /ɔʏ̯/ in neu and Häuser.

ei

eye-like diphthong