Near-Native German

German and English were once dialects of the same Germanic language family and pronounced very similarly. But all this changed with the Anglo-Saxon migrations to Britain in the 5th century. From this point onwards, the two languages began to diverge in grammar, spelling and pronunciation. So much so, that speakers today often struggle to learn each other’s tongue.

Unfortunately, most German classes treat pronunciation as an afterthought. They briefly cover sounds, then tell learners to "listen and repeat". While immersion works well for children, adults learn much better when given clear patterns and rules—yet few resources provide them.

This book intends to change this. It breaks German pronunciation down into a series of simple, memorable rules—all based on familiar English sounds. With dozens of real-world examples and free audio recordings, the book provides practical support to help you refine your accent and sound more natural.

With consistent practice, this method will guide you toward near-native German pronunciation.