The difference of an umlaut, Part I

Part of learning the proper spelling of German words is memorizing any umlauts that they might contain. This is particularly important because certain words are identical except for the presence or absence of an umlaut. Let's have a look today at several verbs that need to be distinguished from one another.

Whereas the verb drücken means "to press" or "to hug," drucken means "to print."

Hey, Max, wir drucken es aus und hängen es ans schwarze Brett.

Hey, Max, we'll print it out and hang it on the blackboard.

Caption 25, Die Pfefferkörner: Gerüchteküche
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An Luzies Kamera muss man nur den Knopf hier drücken, und dann ist Ruhe.

On Luzie's camera, you just have to press the button here and then it's quiet.

Caption 26, Peppa Wutz: Einkaufen und mehr
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Similarly, rücken and rucken are also two different verbs, though they both refer to movement. While rücken means to move, approach, or advance, rucken without an umlaut means to jerk or move violently.

Der Hochzeitstag rückte näher und sie beschlossen, einen langen Spaziergang draußen im Wald zu unternehmen.

The wedding day was approaching and they decided to take a long walk outside in the woods.

Captions 7-8, Märchen - Sagenhaft: Jorinde und Joringel
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The verb lauten is used when you talk about how things are worded, spelled, or stated, whereas the verb läuten means "to chime" or "to ring," and refers to the sound of bells.

Natürlich. Wie lautet Ihre E-Mail-Adresse?

Of course. What is your email address?

Caption 64, Berufsleben: das Vorstellungsgespräch
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Dann verstecken sich alle in ihrem Zimmer, bis das Glöckchen läutet.

Then everyone hides in their room until the little bell rings.

Captions 30-31, Weihnachtsinterviews: Cettina in Linkenheim
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The verb füttern is used when you feed an animal or a small child. The verb futtern refers to eating food rather than giving someone food, and suggests a lack of manners or restraint in eating, similar to the English expression "pigging out."

Die Meisen lassen sich von uns sogar aus der Hand füttern.

The titmice can even be fed from our hands.

Caption 32, Die letzten Paradiese: Die Schönheit der Alpen 2
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Sie schafft Platz zu Hause und erfreut die Fans, die bald Burger unter der Bassgitarre futtern können.

She makes room at home and pleases the fans, who will soon be able to scarf down burgers under the bass guitar.

Captions 8-9, Christina Stürmer: ist reif fürs Museum
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The verbs zahlen and zählen may be the most frequently used verbs in this list.

Wollen wir die Lösegeldforderung nicht abwarten und zahlen?

Don't we want to wait for the ransom demand and pay?

Caption 42, Die Pfefferkörner: Das Wunderkind
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Sie zählen die Stimmen nach dem Ende der Wahl.

They count the votes after the end of the election.

Caption 30, Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Einbürgerungstest
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Further Learning
You'll find many more examples of these verbs on Yabla German.