Pronunciation Guide

Vowels


a - as in English "father"
e - as in English "bet"
i - as in English "bee"
o - as in English "boat"
u - as in English "boot"
ü - as in English "put" but said with lips apart

Consonants


p - as in English "pour"
t - as in English "butter"
k - as in English "kidding"
h - as in English "house"
n - as in English "banner"
w - as in English "winter"
y - as in English "yabber"
' - as stop in air output like the 'space' in the middle of the expression "uh oh"
b - as in English "casaba" without lips touching
d - as in English "body"
g - as in English "giggle"
m - as in English "mom"
s - as in English "sassy"
- as in English "want" but with nasalization
hw - as in English "which"

Double Consonants


ts - as in English "hats"
dz - as in English "cods"
j - as in English "job"
ng - as in English "singer"
gw - as in English "iguana"
ch - as in English "chores"
z - as in English "zebra"
zh - as in English "Persian"
nd - as in English "Monday"

Vowel Diphthongs


au - as in English "ouch"
ai - pronounced like English "I"
ia - as in 'ia' in "Santeria"
ei - as in 'ay' in "say"
oi - as in 'oy' in "boy"
üa - say 'u' in "put" with lips apart followed by 'a' as in "father"
aa - as in English "father" but longer
ae - as in 'a' in "bat"
io - as in 'eo' in the name "Leo"
oa - as in 'oa' in "boa constrictor"
ua - say 'oo' as in "root" followed by a 'a' sound
ui - say 'oo' as in "root" followed by an 'i' sound
üi - say 'u' in "put" with lips apart followed by an 'i' sound