Why Germans Speak Fast

Sometimes native German speakers really do talk fast. But often it's because the words are connected. This means you don't hear pauses between the words. Your brain has to recognize the individual words and put them together.

Connecting and Dropping Sounds

Sometimes sounds or even whole syllables are dropped. Or a completely different sound is used. This makes a sentence sound like one single, long word. For German learners, it's then hard to understand the individual words.

For example, people often say "hat mir" instead of "hat mir". The "t" in "hat" is not spoken or only hinted at. It's not a real "t". Instead, it becomes a "p" like in "hat mir".

Another example is "hat mir ein paar". People pronounce it more like "hat mir'n paar". The "ein" is reduced to an "n" sound, and the "a" in "paar" is short.

Vowel and Ending Reduction

Endings and vowels are also often reduced. For example: "wäre" is often pronounced as "wär". The "e" at the end is dropped. The "r" before the "e" is often spoken as a schwa sound. A schwa sound is a short, unstressed vowel like the "e" in "bitte" or "Rose".

Another example is "werden". People don't say "werden", but rather "werd'n". The "e" in the ending is omitted, and the "d" at the end often sounds like a schwa sound and is not strongly stressed. It's similar with "haben", which becomes "hab'n". The "b" and the "d" at the end of the word are often not strongly pronounced in German, but are reduced.

Even with words like "studieren", we don't say "studieren", but rather "studiern". The "e" is reduced. In the same way, "fahren" becomes the word "fahrn".

Reduction of "sagen"

The word "sagen" is often pronounced as "sagn", by reducing the "g" sound. Many native speakers in Germany pronounce it this way.

Reduction in Word Groups

In many fixed phrases or word groups, sounds are omitted or changed. Here are some examples:

• Aussprache becomes "Aussprach" (not "Aus-sprache")
• Deutsch sprechen becomes "Deutsch-sprechen" (not "Deutsch sprechen")
• aus Sachsen becomes "aus Sachsn" (not "aus Sachsen")
• wie geht es becomes "wie geht's" (the "es" is reduced)
• stimmt es becomes "stimmt's"
• wie läuft es becomes "wie läuft's"
• Heute ist es heiß becomes "Heute ist's heiß" (the "es" is reduced)
• wie es morgen wird becomes "wie's morgen wird"
• wird es schön becomes "wird's schön"

Article Reduction

Articles are often greatly reduced. Pay attention to these examples:

• mit dem Bus becomes "mit'm Bus"
• einen Schal becomes "'nen Schal"
• eine Handtasche becomes "'ne Handtasche"
• einen schönen Tag becomes "'nen schönen Tag"

Reduction of E-N Endings

The ending -en is often reduced. For example, in the words "fahren", "haben", "werden".

"Eigentlich" and its Variants

The word "eigentlich" is a good example of strong reduction. Although it is written as "eigent-lich" in the dictionary, nobody says it like that. There are several ways it is reduced:

• eigentlich (two syllables, the "e" in the middle is dropped)
• eigentlich nicht (also two syllables)
• eich (one syllable, very strongly reduced)

Stressed and Unstressed Words

A word that is not important in a sentence is articulated less clearly. This means: The less a word is stressed in a sentence, the less clearly it is pronounced.

For example, if "eigentlich" is stressed in a sentence, it is said clearly and distinctly, like "Eigentlich esse ich kein Fleisch". But if it is unstressed, it is reduced, as in the examples above.

Question Pronouns "was" and "warum"

Question pronouns are also often reduced:

• was becomes "s" or "s'". For example: "was machen wir eigentlich am Wochenende?" becomes "s' machen wir eigentlich am Wochenende?"
• warum is pronounced as "wam" when it is unstressed.

Word Order in Questions

Sometimes the order of words in questions changes when they are spoken. This happens because it feels more natural. For example:

• Written: "Warum hast du denn die letzte Spalte gelöscht?"
• Spoken: "Warum hast'n du die letzte Spalte gelöscht?" or "Wam hast'n du die letzte Spalte gelöscht?"

Another example:

• Written: "Wann musst du denn los?"
• Spoken: "Wann musst'n du los?"

Or:

• Written: "Wo hast du denn das her?"
• Spoken: "Wo hast'n du das her?"

Colloquial Speech

In colloquial speech, there are many such reductions:

• Hast du mal ein Taschentuch? becomes "Hast'n Taschentuch?" or "Hast'e mal'n Taschentuch?"
• Rückst du mal bitte ein Stück? becomes "Rückst'e mal bitte'n Stück?"
• Gibst du mir mal das Salz? becomes "Gibst'e mir mal das Salz?"

Why This Is Important

It is important to know these reductions to understand native speakers better. If you use these reductions yourself, your German will sound more natural and authentic. Also, this way you will be better understood and accepted by native speakers.

Native speakers believe - often unconsciously - that people are more educated, confident, and competent in a language if they have good and authentic pronunciation.