How do you say these words in German?

Question

I looked up how to say "pumpkin" in German, and it said "Kürbis". Is this the correct word? And if so, how do you pronounce that?

Also, how would you say "cutie" or "sweetie" in German?

If you could help out by spelling them phonetically too, that would be great cause I'm never sure of how to correctly pronounce it!

Answer 1

I´m an American living in Germany, and I´m just learning the language, but know exactly what you need.

Yes, Kürbis is the correct word for pumpkin, and you pronouce it like this...Keyrbus.

For cutie is su§-pronounced suse

Sweetie is Schatz-pronounced shots, or sometimes people say shotzy.

Answer 2

there is this online dictionary (not translation program) I use and they also give you the pronounciation, all you have to do is click on the little speaker symbol behind it.

http://dict.leo.org

Answer 3

Yes, Kürbis is correct. However this Umlaut sound is hard to say for Americans. It is like "kyrrbiz".

cutie or sweetie: e. g. Schatz ("shaaats"), Süße (female) ("syyse" - again this Umlaut sound is hard to translate into writing for Americans), Süßer (male), Liebling ("leebling")

Answer 4

I'd aim for more of a "KERR-bis"  - almost like saying GRRR but with the "K" at the beginning.

As far as an "endearment", I like "Schatz" or "Schatzi" - sort of like SHAH-tzi.

Answer 5

Sweetie in German is Schätzchen

Cute in German is süß

Cutie i couldn't get to translate correctly

sorry i couldn't get the pronunciations for them

Answer 6

The next thing you can get to the umlaut-ü is by trying to say "coor-bees" for a pumpkin; but it really just comes close, but the fact that that you try most Germans will find "süß" (that is, "cute" or "sweet", and again has the ü and the German double-s). But most Germans will appreciate it if you just TRY to pronounce it.

Look, we have three umlauts, the ä, the ö, and the ü. Among them, the ü is the easiest one to learn. It's common in phrases like "Überhole nicht in der Kurve!" ("Don't overtake on bends!"), "Dies ist ein Banküberfall!" ("This is a bank robbery!") or "Ich habe zu viel getrunken, ich muss mich übergeben." ("I drank too much, I'll have to vomit.") From the latter, you can learn the ü sound most easily; it's about the sound that's appropriate while praying to the porcelain goddess. Just skip the sacrifices.

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edit:

"kyeer-bis"

I think that comes closest, although, after sleeping it over, I'm in favor of "Koor-biz".