Learning German? Then you’ve probably run into the brick wall that is German spelling. Don’t worry – you're in good company. In this playful piece, we explore what makes German so difficult to write (hello, “Eichhörnchen”), and what it might look like if spelling finally made sense.
Imagine you’re a child. Six or seven years old. You’ve just learned how to write the letter “M” and that the letter “A” doesn’t always sound like “ah” – sometimes it sounds like “eh”, depending on… who knows what. You're doing your best.
And then you see this animal in the garden: cute, fuzzy, lightning-fast, with a bushy tail. You ask your parents what it is. “That’s an Eichhörnchen,” they say.
You try writing it down: Aichhörnschen – because that’s what it sounds like. You’re proud. You nailed it!
But then your teacher comes along, looks at your paper and says, “Almost. But you forgot that the Ei at the beginning is spelled with two letters that don’t actually sound like ‘ai’. And the -rnchen at the end isn’t spelled the way it sounds either – it’s a diminutive, a special grammar rule for 'small things'."
Sounds complicated? It is. Welcome to the German spelling system.
If you’ve ever wondered why German writing feels like a riddle wrapped in a puzzle, you're not alone. Millions of schoolchildren, foreign learners – even native speakers – struggle with questions like: “Do I spell dass with one ‘s’ or two?” (Spoiler: it depends.)
German orthography (yes, that’s the fancy word) is like a linguistic museum. It preserves ancient rules, loanwords from other languages, historical quirks, and silent letters – all side by side in a glass display. Great for linguists. Not so great when you just want to write something simple without feeling like you need an engineering degree first.
Just imagine: you hear a word, and you can spell it exactly how it sounds. No rules to memorize, no exceptions, no mysteries. Writing would become as natural as speaking.
In that world, Eichhörnchen might become Aichhörnschen. Or Eichhärnschn, if you live in southern Germany and speak with a Swabian accent. And you know what? Everyone would still understand it. Because that’s the whole point of writing – to communicate, not to pass a spelling test.
The German language is full of words that sound one way and are written completely differently. Here are some that make learners (and kids!) shake their heads:
Chauffeur – sounds like “sho-fur”, but looks like a crossword puzzle.
Psychologie – pronounced “sue-kho-lo-ghee”, but it starts with a silent “P” and “s”. Why? No one knows.
Joghurt – officially you’re allowed to spell it “Jogurt”. But do that on a school test and… you’ll see red ink.
Quarantäne – you’d think “Kwarantäne” would be more logical. It sounds like that, doesn’t it?
Clearly, there’s still plenty of room for improvement in terms of logic.
Let’s dream a little. Imagine a version of German where you spell words exactly as you say them. No silent letters, no extra French or Greek syllables, no rules that only apply during a full moon.
We’ll call it “Klingdeutsch” – or “Phonetic German for Everyone.”
In Klingdeutsch:
Philosophie becomes Filosofie
Rhythmus becomes Ritmus
Apotheke becomes Apoteke
And Geheimnis? Honestly, that one already sounds good. Let’s keep it.
Sure, written German would look a little different. Some grown-ups would probably complain, “But that doesn’t look right!” But for kids, for learners, for anyone who just wants to use the language – it would be a huge relief.
Great question.
Language evolves slowly. Spelling rules are deeply rooted in culture and tradition. Schoolbooks would become outdated overnight. Newspapers would need new editors. And somewhere, a German teacher might faint from shock.
That said, the idea of simplifying spelling isn’t new. In fact, Germany tried it in 1996 with a spelling reform. Back then, Delphin (with a “ph”) was officially allowed to be spelled Delfin – revolutionary! And finally… logical.
But many people still cling to the old, complicated forms. Maybe because they had to struggle through them and feel others should too. Or maybe they believe language only feels “correct” when it’s difficult.
If you're just starting out with writing – or if you love language but often get confused – you're not alone. The idea that writing could be simpler, more intuitive, and closer to how we actually speak? It’s not just a dream. It’s a pretty good idea.
Maybe one day we’ll see a German that’s free of spelling traps and full of logic. A language where even an Aichhörnschen is welcome to jump across the page – light, fuzzy, and without orthography anxiety.
And until then? Breathe deep, write boldly – and if you make a mistake, maybe it’s just a glimpse of the future.
This website uses cookies 🍪 to ensure you get the best experience on our website. More Info