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Spelling | IPA | Approximate English pronunciation |
a | /ɐ/ | short ah |
aa | /ɑː/ | long ah |
ai | /aj/ | similar to diphthong in eye or high |
ce, ci, cy | /s/ | as in soon |
ca, co, ca | /k/ | as in kite |
ch | /ʃ/ /k/ /x/ | as in shut, kite, or guttural Bach (mostly in loan words) |
ë | /ə/ | schwa sound, as in sofa |
ee | /iə/ | ee and uh together |
ei | /ɛi/ | short eh and ih together; similar to play but shorter |
eu | /eø/ | long eh and ih together, but with lips rounded for ih |
g | /x/ | guttural Bach |
gh | /g/ | as in go |
h | /h/ | slightly softer; may sound like y as in yes before e |
i, ie | /i/ | as in eat |
j | /j/ | as in yes |
oe | /u/ | as in boot |
oei | /ui/ | oo and ee together |
oo | /uə/ | oo and uh together |
ou | /ɵu/ | similar to oh |
q | /k/ | as in kite |
r | /r/ | rolled / trilled r |
sj | /ʃ/ | as in shut |
tj | /tʃ/ /k/ | as in chat; but also kite in the ending -tjie |
u | /œ/ | long eh with rounded lips |
ui | /œy/ | ay like bait |
uu | /y/ | ee but with rounded lips |
v | /f/ | as in fine |
w | /v/ | as in vase |
x | /ks/ | as in box |
y | /ɛi/ | short eh and ih together; similar to play but shorter |
At the end of word, the /d/ and /b/ sounds become /t/ and /p/.
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