Vocabulary
Doppel-L
/ˈdɔpl̩ˌʔɛl/· phrase
double L (ll) when spelling; the same pattern works for any letter: Doppel-N, Doppel-S. Spoken: Doppel-Ell
Whenever you spell a word with two of the same letter in a row — Hallo, Müller, Anna, Haddad: say Doppel- + the German letter name (Doppel-Ell, Doppel-Enn, Doppel-Deh). You will also hear „zweimal L“; both are fine.
CEFR A1Frequency ●●●●●
Your memory
New
Learning
Familiar
Strong
Mastered
Forms
- any letter
- Doppel-N · Doppel-S · Doppel-D · Doppel-T
- spoken
- Doppel-Ell · Doppel-Enn · Doppel-Ess
- also heard
- zweimal L
One word, many lives
Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
Doppel-L
double L (ll), when spelling
Hallo: H, A, Doppel-L, O.
Hallo: H, A, double L, O.
Word family
Doppel-Ldoppeltdouble, twicedas Doppelzimmerdouble roomder Doppelnamedouble-barrelled surname (Müller-Weber)
Common combinations
- mit Doppel-Lwith a double L
- zweimal Ltwo Ls (the same thing)
- mit Doppel-S oder mit Eszett?with ss or with ß (Eszett)?
Common learner mistakes
- W = Doppel-UW = WehEnglish calls W „double-u“, but in German W is Weh [veː]. Doppel-U would mean two Us: uu.
- Straße: S, T, R, A, Doppel-S, EStraße: S, T, R, A, Eszett, Eß is a letter of its own, Eszett (or scharfes S) — not Doppel-S. Doppel-S is ss, as in Tschüss.
- Hallo: H, A, double L, OHallo: H, A, Doppel-L, ODon't switch to English for „double“: say Doppel-L (Doppel-Ell) — or zweimal L.
Real examples
- Ich heiße Ella: E, Doppel-L, A.My name is Ella: E, double L, A.
- Wie schreibt man das? — Mit Doppel-L.How do you spell that? — With a double L.
- Müller, mit Ü und Doppel-L.Müller — with Ü and a double L.
- Ich buchstabiere: K, O, Doppel-L, E, G, E.I'll spell it: K, O, double L, E, G, E.
