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German frequency list

No. 10,839 in German

ss

In German, "ss" is a letter combination used to replace "ß" (Eszett) in certain cases, such as in Swiss German or when "ß" isn't available; it represents the same "sharp S" sound.

In a sentence

  • Ich habe gestern ein großes Schloss besucht.

    I visited a big castle yesterday.

    Usage of 'ss': The word 'Schloss' here refers to a castle. It uses 'ss' because it follows a short vowel, which is the standard spelling rule in German orthography.

  • Er isst gerne Käse zum Frühstück.

    He likes eating cheese for breakfast.

    Usage of 'ss': The word 'isst' (from 'essen' - to eat) uses 'ss' to differentiate it orthographically from 'ist' (is). This showcases the role of spelling in conveying meaning.

  • Die Straße ist morgens immer ziemlich voll.

    The street is always quite busy in the mornings.

    Usage of 'ss': The spelling 'Straße' includes 'ß' and not 'ss' due to the long vowel sound preceding it, demonstrating the phonetic rule associated with using 'ß' versus 'ss' in German.

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