IPA: /ŋ/

NG-Laut

NG Sound

German -ng is always /ŋ/ without a separate /g/ sound (unlike English 'finger' which has /ŋg/). 'Ring' = /rɪŋ/, 'singen' = /zɪŋən/. The combination -nk = /ŋk/ does include the /k/ (Bank = /baŋk/).

Sounds

IPA	Beispiel	Translation
/ŋ/	Ring	ring
/ŋ/	lang	long
/ŋk/	Bank	bench

Minimal Pairs

Ring /rɪŋ/

ring

Ringe /rɪŋə/

rings (still no /g/!)

Tips

Say 'sing' in English, hold the /ŋ/ — that's the German NG. Never add a /g/ after it.

The only exception is -nk which DOES include /k/: Bank /baŋk/, trinken /trɪŋkən/.

Common Mistakes

Adding /g/ after ng like English 'finger'

Fix: German ng = pure /ŋ/ with NO /g/ — like 'singer', not 'finger'

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