Indian languages
Indian tribes
Native American website
Welcome to our Baniva alphabet page! The following charts show the pronunciation for the Baniva del Guainia orthography we have used on our site, as well as some alternate spellings that you may find in other books and websites.
Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | Baniva pronunciation: |
a | a | Like the a in father. | |
aa | a·, a: | a![]() |
Like a only held longer. |
e | e | Like the e sound in Spanish, similar to the a in gate. | |
ee | e·, e: | e![]() |
Like e only held longer. |
i | i | Like the i in police. | |
ii | i·, i: | i![]() |
Like i only held longer. |
u | u | Like the u in flute. | |
uu | u·, u: | u![]() |
Like u only held longer. |
Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | Baniva pronunciation: |
b | b | Like b in boy. | |
d | d | Like d in day. | |
dz | dz | Like the ds in Edsel. | |
g | gu | g | Like the g in go. |
j | h | h | Like h in hay. |
k | c, qu | k | Like the k in king. |
l | l | Like l in light. | |
m | m | Like m in moon. | |
n | n | Like n in night. | |
p | p | Like the p in pin. | |
r | ![]() |
Like the r in Spanish pero, somewhat like the tt in American English butter. | |
sr | ![]() |
This sound does not exist in English. It sounds a little like the sh of shell, only pronounced with the tongue curled back. If you are familiar with Russian, this is the dark "sh" sound used in Russian. | |
t | t | Like the t in tell. | |
ts | ts | Like the ts in cats. | |
w | gu, hu | w | Like w in way. |
y | j | Like y in yes. | |
zr | ![]() |
This sound does not exist in English. It sounds a little like the ge of garage, only pronounced with the tongue curled back. If you are familiar with Russian, this is the "zh" sound used in Russian. |
Back to Indian Culture
Back to American Indian Words
Back to the South American Languages
Indian clothing
Ottawa legends
Rhode Island Narragansett
Lake Powhatan
Tribal tattoos
Would you like to help support our organization's work with the Baniva language?