ɔʏ

German eu/äu

Rounded diphthong — neu, Freund, Häuser, heute, Leute

VowelIPA: /ɔʏ/

Practice Words

neuFreundHäuserheuteLeuteDeutschEuropaneunBäumeTräume

Accent-Specific Pronunciation Guide

How you approach this sound depends on your English accent. Find yours below for personalised coaching.

American English

Small AdjustmentDifficulty: 2/5

Very close to English 'oy' in 'boy' — but German starts slightly more rounded and ends more fronted. Say 'boy' with tighter lip rounding at the start. The difference is subtle enough that using your English 'oy' will be understood, but the refined version starts from a rounder 'aw' and glides to a fronted position.

Bridge from: boy, toy, oil (ɔɪ)

Common mistakes:

•Starting too open (not enough rounding)
•The difference from English 'oy' is subtle — don't overthink it

Drill sequence:

boy → round start more → neu
toy → round → heute
oil → round → Leute

British English

Small AdjustmentDifficulty: 2/5

RP 'oy' is very close. Slightly more rounding at the start and more fronted endpoint.

Bridge from: boy, toy (ɔɪ)

Common mistakes:

•Subtle difference — don't overthink

Drill sequence:

boy → round → neu

Australian / NZ English

Small AdjustmentDifficulty: 2/5

Your Australian 'oy' in 'boy' is close. Add slightly more lip rounding at the start. The adjustment is small.

Bridge from: boy, toy (oɪ)

Common mistakes:

•Starting position may differ — aim for rounder start

Drill sequence:

boy → round → neu

Irish English

Small AdjustmentDifficulty: 2/5

Close to your 'oy'. Add rounding at the start.

Bridge from: boy (ɔɪ)

Common mistakes:

•Subtle difference

Drill sequence:

boy → round → neu

Scottish English

Small AdjustmentDifficulty: 2/5

Close to your 'oy'. Slightly more rounded start, more fronted end.

Bridge from: boy (ɔɪ)

Common mistakes:

•Subtle difference

Drill sequence:

boy → round → neu

Indian English

Small AdjustmentDifficulty: 2/5

Your 'oy' in 'boy' is the bridge. German version starts with slightly more lip rounding. The difference is subtle — your English 'oy' will be understood.

Bridge from: boy, toy (ɔɪ)

Common mistakes:

•Not enough rounding at start

Drill sequence:

boy → add rounding → neu
toy → round → heute

South African English

Small AdjustmentDifficulty: 2/5

Close to your 'oy'. Slightly rounder start.

Bridge from: boy (ɔɪ)

Common mistakes:

•Subtle difference

Drill sequence:

boy → round → neu

Nigerian / W. African English

Small AdjustmentDifficulty: 2/5

Your 'oy' in 'boy' is the starting point. German eu/äu starts with a rounder 'aw' quality and glides to a fronted position. The difference from English 'oy' is subtle.

Bridge from: boy, toy (ɔɪ)

Common mistakes:

•Starting position not rounded enough

Drill sequence:

boy → round start → neu
toy → round → heute

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce the German German eu/äu?▾

The German German eu/äu is written as ɔʏ in IPA. Rounded diphthong — neu, Freund, Häuser, heute, Leute. The technique varies by your English accent — scroll down for personalised coaching for American, British, Australian, Irish, Scottish, Indian, South African, and Nigerian speakers.

Is the German German eu/äu hard for English speakers?▾

It depends on your accent. For some English accents, this is a direct transfer (you already make this sound). For others, it's genuinely new. Check the accent-specific section below to see your difficulty rating.

What words use the German German eu/äu sound?▾

Common practice words include: neu, Freund, Häuser, heute, Leute, Deutsch. These are good starting points for drilling this sound.