Baniwa Pronunciation and Spelling Guide

˜Vowels

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	How To Pronounce It:
a		a	Like the a in father.
aa	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.

˜Consonants

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	How To Pronounce It:
b		b	Like b in boy.
d		d	Like d in day.
dz	ds, j	dz~d	Like ds in Edsel or j in jar.
h	j	h	Like h in hay.
k	c, qu	k	Like the soft k in ski.
kh		kh	Like the hard k in key.
m		m	Like m in moon.
n		n	Like n in night.
ñ		ny	Like ny in canyon.
p		p	Like the soft p in spy.
ph		ph	Like the hard p in pie.
r			Like the r in Spanish pero, somewhat like the tt in American English butter.
rr	r	r	Like the rolling r in Spanish perro.
t		t	Like the soft t in star.
th		th	Like the hard t in tar.
ts	ch	ts~t	Like ts in cats or ch in chair.
w	hu	w	Like w in way.
y		j	Like y in yes.
’			A pause sound, like the one in the middle of the word "uh-oh."

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