We’re going to take a look at the short vowels first, and then go straight to the long vowels. The German word that contains these vowel will be in parentheses and the English translation of the word will follow. The German language does not mark the difference between long and short vowels with adequate punctuation. In a lot of cases, (not always), the short vowels are followed by two or more consonants.

i – (bitte) please

e – (essen) to eat

a – (der Mann) husband, man

o – (die Sonne) sun

u – (die Mutter) mother

ö – (können) to be able to

ü – (fünf) five

Long Vowels:

i – (wie) how

e – (den) that

a – (der Tag) day

o – (wo) where

u – (gut) good

ö – (der König) king

ü – (über) over, above