Grimm's Law (First Consonant Shift)
| First Stage | . | |
| /bh/ (voiced bilabial aspirate) | became | /b/ (voiced bilabial fricative) |
| /dh/ (voiced alveolar aspirate) | became | /ð/ (voiced interdental fricative) |
| /gh/ (voiced velar aspirate) | became | /g/ (voiced velar fricative) |
| . | ||
| Second Stage | . | |
| /p/ (voiceless bilabial stop) | became | /f/ (voiceless labio-dental fricative) |
| /t/ (voicless alveolar stop) | became | /q/ (voiceless interdental fricative) |
| /k/ (voicless velar stop) | became | /h/ (voiceless velar fricative) |
| Third Stage | . | |
| /b/ (voiced bilabial stop) | became | /p/ (voiceless bilabial stop) |
| /d/ (voiced alveolar stop) | became | /t/ (voiceless alveolar stop) |
| /g/ (voiced velar stop) | became | /k/ (voiceless velar stop) |
| . | ||
| Fourth Stage | . | |
| /b/ (voiced bilabial fricative) | became | /b/ (voiced bilabial stop) |
| /ð/ (voiced interdental fricative) | became | /d/ (voiced alveolar stop) |
| /g/ (voiced velar fricative) | became | /g/ (voiced velar stop) |
Grimm's Law does not apply to *IE voiceless stops (that is, /p/, /t/, /k/) following another voiceless stop or /s/. See also Verner's
Law.