The chemistry of alkali metal germanides, involving the germanide ion Ge4− and other cluster (Zintl) ions such as , , , and [(Ge9)2]6−, is largely analogous to that of the corresponding silicides.
ðə kˈɛmɪstɹi ʌv ˈælkəlˌaɪ mˈɛɾəl dʒˈɜːmɐnˌaɪdz, ɪnvˈɑːlvɪŋ ðə dʒˈɜːmɐnˌaɪd ˈaɪɑːn dʒˈiː fˈoːɹ mˈaɪnəs ænd ˈʌðɚ klˈʌstɚ zˈɪntəl ˈaɪɑːnz sˈʌtʃ ɐz , , , ænd dʒˈiː nˈaɪn tˈuː sˈɪks mˈaɪnəs, ɪz lˈɑːɹdʒli ɐnˈæləɡəs tə ðæt ʌvðə kˌɔːɹɪspˈɑːndɪŋ sˈɪlɪsˌaɪdz.