A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Potsdam
Learn how to pronounce Potsdam, the historic German city near Berlin, with this simple guide for English speakers.
potsdam
POTS-dam
/ˈpɒts.dæm/ · pots · dam
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It also comes up when talking about travel to the Berlin metropolitan area, as it is a popular day trip for its palaces and gardens.
Where the word comes from
The name is derived from the Polabian 'Poztupimi', meaning 'under the oaks'. It was later Germanized to its current form.
Common ways people get it wrong
- POT-zum English speakers often soften the second syllable, but the 'dam' should be pronounced clearly like the word for a water barrier.
Frequently asked
Is the 't' in Potsdam silent?
No, the 't' is fully pronounced. You should articulate both the 't' and the 's' clearly.
Is it pronounced like the English word dam?
Yes, the second syllable rhymes exactly with the English word for a structure that holds back water. Keep the vowel sound short and crisp.
Do Germans pronounce it differently?
In German, the 'a' sounds are slightly more open and the 's' is sometimes voiced, but the English pronunciation is widely accepted and understood.
