Alphabet
/al.faˈbeːt/neuter
The English phrase "alphabet" is Alphabet in German. Wiktionary also lists Abc.
Meaning: an ordered set of letters used in a language (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Alphabet | /al.faˈbeːt/ | neuter |
| Abc | /ˌa(ː)beˈtseː/ | neuter |
The word refers to an ordered set of letters used in a language. In a colloquial or informal context, you might hear the abbreviation ABC used to refer to the alphabet or to the basic principles of a subject.
Which one should you use?
While Alphabet is the standard term, Abc is also a neuter form used for the alphabet. For more specific contexts, such as a phonetic alphabet used for spelling, the term das Buchstabieralphabet is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Alphabet is neuter and is used with the definite article das.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /al.faˈbeːt/.
When do people say it?
When referring to the song used to teach the alphabet, some German speakers use the term das ABC-Lied.
Did you know?
- The word Buchstabe for 'letter' comes from Buch meaning 'book' and Stabe meaning 'staff' or 'stick', referring to the ancient way of carving letters into wood.
- While the standard Alphabet ends with Z, German speakers use a specialized Buchstabieralphabet where letters are replaced by words like Anton for 'A' and Berta for 'B' to avoid confusion on the phone.
- The German Alphabet includes four characters not found in the English one: the umlauts Ä, Ö, Ü and the ligature ß.
Examples in context
- Im Alphabet kommt B nach A.In the alphabet, B comes after A.This sentence illustrates the order of letters within the Alphabet.Tatoeba #1368503 by al_ex_an_der, translation #67292 by CK
- Sag das Alphabet rückwärts auf.Say the alphabet backwards.This sentence shows a command to recite the Alphabet in reverse.Tatoeba #464184 by Espi, translation #67287 by sacredceltic
- Hat das Japanische ein Alphabet?Does Japanese have an alphabet?This sentence uses Alphabet to ask about the linguistic properties of Japanese.Tatoeba #13880148 by mhr, translation #13888161 by rul
- Ich habe gerade das Alphabet gelernt.I just learned the alphabet.
- Die Kinder lernen gerade das ABC.The children are learning the alphabet.
- Das Buchstabieralphabet wird für die Kommunikation im Funkverkehr verwendet.The phonetic alphabet is used for communication in radio traffic.
- Lass uns gemeinsam das ABC-Lied singen!Let's sing the alphabet song together!
- 65 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are discussing a new language course.
- FelixKennst du das deutsche Alphabet?Do you know the German alphabet?
- JuliaJa, das Alphabet ist recht einfach.Yes, the alphabet is quite simple.
- FelixDas ist gut für den Kurs.That is good for the course.
- JuliaIch lerne es jeden Tag.I learn it every day.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alphabet” translations and entries Alphabet, Abc, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
