The German alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet. It includes 30 letters. In addition to the 26 letters that the English language also uses, German includes:
- ä, which represents a sound like the e in English bet
- ö, which represents a sound like the i in the British pronunciation of bird
- ü, which represents a sound made by rounding the lips (as when pronouncing English u), but tightening the tongue (as when pronouncing English ee)
- ß, which is a ligature of s and z and is pronounced like a double s and called an Eszett