Stress & Intonation
English speakers often struggle with German stress and intonation because they affect meaning and naturalness. This guide goes over the key patterns so you can sound more native.
Stress
German stress usually falls on the first syllable of root words, and it shifts predictable ways in prefixes, suffixes, and compounds. Stress changes can also signal word class or meaning.
Prefixes
Stress remains on the root with un-, be-, ver- and similar formative prefixes; stress shifts to the prefix with separable prefixes like auf- or mit-.
Suffixes
Some suffixes like -keit and -schaft leave stress on the stem, while others like -ung or -erei can attract stress; stress placement affects whether a word sounds natural or odd.
Compounds
In compounds the primary stress falls on the first element, while the second has a secondary stress; this pattern helps listeners parse the word into meaningful parts.
Intonation
German intonation patterns differ from English in how they signal questions, emphasis and sentence mood. Paying attention to pitch movement makes you easier to understand.
Yes/No Questions
Yes/no questions typically start with a pitch rise on the finite verb and end with a slight fall, cueing that an answer is expected. This differs from English tag questions.
W-Questions
W-questions begin with a high pitch on the question word and then downward pitch across the rest of the sentence; intonation matches the information-seeking function.
Contrast and Focus
Pitch rises can highlight contrast or corrective emphasis, while a prolonged syllable draws attention to important information; speakers use these cues to manage listener attention.
Summary
Mastering stress and intonation requires noticing patterns in prefixes, suffixes and sentence type, and practicing aloud with feedback. These prosodic features shape meaning and make speech sound natural.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025