The idea

Focus on the stressed vowel: Höhle has long ö; Hölle has short ö. Listen to each full example, then repeat the target word and return to the sentence. Long and short vowel categories can differ in quality as well as duration, so simply holding an otherwise identical sound longer is not a complete technique. Use the linked dictionary pronunciation guidance to interpret a model.

Patterns to compare
WortBedeutung
HöhleHohlraum im Fels
Höllereligiöse oder bildliche Unterwelt

Avoid merging the target vowels

  • „Höhle“ und „Hölle“ brauchen hier keinen hörbaren Vokalunterschied. Höhle hat langes ö; Hölle hat kurzes ö.

    The contrast carries meaning: Höhle is cave; Hölle is hell. Compare both duration and vowel quality with a dictionary model. This task does not assign an automated pronunciation score.

Examples

  • Die Höhle ist nur mit einer Führung zugänglich.The cave is accessible only with a guide.Höhle means cave here. Compare the stressed vowel with the neighbouring example; Höhle has long ö; Hölle has short ö.
  • In dem alten Gedicht wird die Hölle beschrieben.Hell is described in the old poem.Hölle means hell here. Compare the stressed vowel with the neighbouring example; Höhle has long ö; Hölle has short ö.
  • Vor der Höhle warten zwölf Besuchende.Twelve visitors wait in front of the cave.Höhle means cave here. Compare the stressed vowel with the neighbouring example; Höhle has long ö; Hölle has short ö.
  • Die Figur nennt den lauten Raum bildlich eine Hölle.The character figuratively calls the noisy room hell.Hölle means hell here. Compare the stressed vowel with the neighbouring example; Höhle has long ö; Hölle has short ö.
  • Eine Zeichnung zeigt den Eingang der Höhle.A drawing shows the entrance to the cave.Höhle means cave here. Compare the stressed vowel with the neighbouring example; Höhle has long ö; Hölle has short ö.
  • Der Ausdruck Hölle gehört hier zur erfundenen Geschichte.The expression hell belongs to the invented story here.Hölle means hell here. Compare the stressed vowel with the neighbouring example; Höhle has long ö; Hölle has short ö.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not replace a vowel contrast with extra loudness or an invented extra syllable. Keep the surrounding consonants recognizable. Device read-aloud depends on the German voice installed in your browser and may not demonstrate every fine distinction equally clearly; it is synthetic playback, not a human recording or pronunciation assessment.

Try it yourself

  1. Welches Wort bezeichnet „Hohlraum im Fels“: Höhle oder Hölle? Sprich danach den ersten Beispielsatz.

    Show answer or example answer

    Höhle. Die Höhle ist nur mit einer Führung zugänglich.

    Höhle means cave; the first example supplies a complete context.

  2. Erkläre den Lautunterschied zwischen „Höhle“ und „Hölle“. Verändere nicht nur die Lautstärke.

    Show answer or example answer

    Höhle hat langes ö; Hölle hat kurzes ö.

    Höhle has long ö; Hölle has short ö. The answer needs a sound distinction, not only a spelling description.

  3. Sprich je einen eigenen Satz mit „Höhle“ und „Hölle“. Eine andere Person soll ohne sichtbaren Text erkennen, welches Wort du meinst.

    Show answer or example answer

    Mögliche Satzmuster: Vor der Höhle warten zwölf Besuchende. Die Figur nennt den lauten Raum bildlich eine Hölle. Prüfe, ob die Wörter unterschiedlich und verständlich gesprochen sind.

    Many sentences are possible. Success here means the intended word is identifiable in context; this page does not automatically score your recording or certify an accent.

Use it today

Make a short recording in your own recording app if you want to compare attempts. Say one original sentence using Höhle and one using Hölle, then ask a listener which meaning they heard without showing the words. If the words are confused, return to the stressed vowel rather than speeding up the whole sentence.