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German · Pronunciation Guide
How do you pronounce "links" in German?
LINKS. The n becomes the 'ng' of sing before the k, and the final s is an unvoiced hiss.
The -s at the end is a fossilised ending rather than a plural: German uses links and rechts as adverbs of direction, while the adjectives are linke and rechte. Recognising that -s as adverbial rather than plural saves confusion when you meet linkes Bein alongside nach links.
Listen: links
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Hear it in a sentence
Das Bad ist links.
The bathroom is on the left.
Listen: Das Bad ist links.
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Das Bad ist links has Bad showing final devoicing, so it comes out 'baht' rather than 'bahd'. The adverb then closes the sentence with its consonant cluster fully exposed, and because it is the last word it carries the sentence's main stress.
Where English speakers slip
The English word links is very nearly identical, which makes this an easy word — the only adjustment is the l, which English darkens before a consonant and German keeps bright. Say the l of leaf rather than the l of milk. Learners also mix up links and rechts under pressure, so it is worth pairing them in practice from the start.