The eight key rules
"W" always sounds like English "v".
Wasser sounds like "Vasser". Wien sounds like "Veen".
"V" is usually pronounced [f] in native German words and [v] in some loanwords.
Vater sounds like "Fater". Vogel sounds like "Fogel".
"Z" always sounds like English "ts".
Zehn sounds like "Tsehn". Zug sounds like "Tsoog".
"J" is usually pronounced [j]. Some loanwords use [ʒ] or [dʒ].
Ja sounds like "Yah". Jung sounds like "Yoong".
"Sp" at the start of a word sounds like "shp".
Sprechen sounds like "Shprechen". Spät sounds like "Shpät".
"St" at the start of a word sounds like "sht".
Stadt sounds like "Shtat". Stehen sounds like "Shtehen".
After i / e / ä / ö / ü: "ch" is soft, like a whispered "sh".
Ich, nicht, möchte — all use this soft sound.
After a / o / u: "ch" is hard, like clearing your throat.
Bach, doch, Buch — all use this hard sound.
Recognition practice
"Sprechen" begins with "sp". How is this pronounced?
"Vater" (father) — how is the "v" pronounced?
"Zehn" (ten) — how is the "z" pronounced?
"Stadt" (city) begins with "st". How is this pronounced?