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| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| a | ~ a |
Like the a in what or the a in father. | |
| aa | a![]() |
Like the a in father, only held longer. | |
| i | i ~ I | Like the ea in heat or the i in hit. | |
| ii | i![]() |
Like the ea in heat, only held longer. | |
| u | ~ u |
Like the u in put or the u in flute. | |
| uu | u![]() |
Like the u in flute, only held longer. |
| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| ay | aj | Like English eye. | |
| aw | aw | Like ou in out. | |
| iw | iw | Like a child saying ew! | |
| uy | uy | Like the uoy in buoy. |
| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| b | b | Like b in ball. | |
| ch |  t![]() |
Like ch in chair. | |
| ch' |  t ' |
Like ch in char, but with a catch after it (like ch'ar). | |
| d | d | Like d in day. | |
| h | h | Like h in heart. | |
| k | k | Like k in skate. | |
| k' | k' | Like k in key, but with a catch after it (like k'ey). | |
| m | m | Like m in moon. | |
| n | n | Like n in night. | |
| p | p | Like p in spill. | |
| s | s | Like s in sing. | |
| sh | ![]() |
Like sh in shore. | |
| t | t | Like t in sty. | |
| t' |  t' | Like t in tie, but with a catch after it (like t'ie). | |
| ts | ts | Like ts in tsunami. | |
| ts' | ts' | Like ts in tsunami, but with a catch after it (like ts'unami.) | |
| w | 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." |
| a | low tone |
| á | high tone |
| àa | falling tone |

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