Ä, ö, ü: dots that change the vowel

Distinguish Mutter/Mütter and form front rounded vowels.

Round your lips, keep the tongue forward

For ü, start near an ee tongue position and round your lips; for ö, start near an e position and round them. These are vowel changes, not added y sounds. Long and short forms differ in quality as well as length.

front rounded vowel

Useful contrasts

Mutter means mother; Mütter means mothers. Tür has long ü, fünf short ü; schön has long ö, können short ö. Ä is e-like; long ä has regional variation.

front rounded vowel