The y that sounds like ü in German
You sit with friends at dinner, talking about your school days, sports and your last doctor's visit.
The phrase
Der Typ neben mir hat immer abgeschrieben.10 words10 sentences
The ten words
- Typ/tyːp/
guynoun
A man, said casually.
- typisch/ˈtyːpɪʃ/
typicaladjective
Characteristic of a person or thing.
- sympathisch/zʏmˈpaːtɪʃ/
likeableadjective
Pleasant from the first meeting.
- Physik/fyˈziːk/
physicsnoun
The science of forces, light, heat, and motion.
- Gymnasium/ɡʏmˈnaːziʊm/
grammar schoolnoun
A higher school leading to the Abitur.
- Rhythmus/ˈʁʏtmʊs/
rhythmnoun
The alternation of strong and weak beats.
- Symptom/zʏmpˈtoːm/
symptomnoun
A sign that you are ill.
- Mythos/ˈmyːtɔs/
mythnoun
An old story about gods and heroes.
- Zyklus/ˈtsyːklʊs/
cyclenoun
A process that keeps repeating.
- physisch/ˈfyːzɪʃ/
physicaladjective
Relating to the body.
The sentences
Der Typ neben mir hat immer abgeschrieben.
The guy next to me always copied.
Das ist typisch für unseren alten Lehrer.
That's typical of our old teacher.
Die neue Ärztin war mir sofort sympathisch.
I liked the new doctor right away.
In Physik hatte ich immer schlechte Noten.
I always got bad grades in physics.
Wir waren zusammen auf dem Gymnasium, weißt du noch?
We went to grammar school together, remember?
Beim Laufen finde ich einfach keinen Rhythmus.
When I run, I just can't find a rhythm.
Der Arzt wollte jedes Symptom genau wissen.
The doctor wanted to know every symptom exactly.
Das mit dem Sport nach dem Essen ist doch nur ein Mythos.
The thing about exercising after eating is just a myth.
Die Ärztin hat mich nach meinem Zyklus gefragt.
The doctor asked me about my cycle.
Nach dem Training war ich physisch völlig fertig.
After the workout I was completely exhausted physically.
Pronunciation
Typ/tyːp/
The y is long, like the ü in "müde".
typisch/ˈtyːpɪʃ/
The y sounds like a long ü, as in "Tür".
sympathisch/zʏmˈpaːtɪʃ/
The stress is on "pa", with a long a.
Physik/fyˈziːk/
Ph sounds like f, the s like a buzzing s, and the stress is on the second syllable with a long i.
Gymnasium/ɡʏmˈnaːziʊm/
The y sounds short, like the ü in "Glück".
Rhythmus/ˈʁʏtmʊs/
Both h's are silent: you say "Rütmus".
Symptom/zʏmpˈtoːm/
The stress is on "tom", with a long o.
Mythos/ˈmyːtɔs/
The th sounds like a plain t.
Zyklus/ˈtsyːklʊs/
The Z at the start sounds like ts in "Zeit".
physisch/ˈfyːzɪʃ/
The y is long, as in "Tür".
Good to know
- Gymnasium
- The Gymnasium is a higher school that leads to the Abitur. After primary school, children in Germany usually choose between several types of school, and which ones exist depends on the federal state.
- Krankenkasse
- Most people in Germany have statutory health insurance. You go to the doctor with the insurance card, which the practice usually scans at check-in.
- Praxis
- Doctors mostly work in their own practices. For a visit you often need an appointment, made beforehand by phone or online.
- Siezen und Duzen
- Friends say du to each other, while with doctors and strangers people usually say Sie. If you are unsure, start with Sie.
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Past days are part of the Pass. Practice the first 3 of the 10 words free, or all of them with the Pass.
Get the Pass7 days free, then USD 5.99 a monthToday's words are freeQuestions
- How do you say "secondary school" in German?
- The word is Gymnasium, a higher school that leads to the Abitur. Example: "Wir waren zusammen auf dem Gymnasium, weißt du noch?"
- What can I say to the doctor about my symptoms?
- You can talk about a Symptom, a sign that you are ill. The doctor in the example wanted to know every Symptom exactly.
- What does typisch mean in German?
- Typisch means characteristic of a person or thing. For example: "Das ist typisch für unseren alten Lehrer."