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Cahuilla Pronunciation and Spelling Guide

Cahuilla Vowels

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	Cahuilla pronunciation:
a		a	Like the a in father.
aa		a	Like a only held longer.
e		e	Like the a in gate.
ee		e	Like e only held longer.
i		i	Like the i in police.
ii		i	Like i only held longer.
u		u	Like the u in flute.
uu		u	Like u only held longer.

Cahuilla Consonants

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	Cahuilla pronunciation:
ch	č	t	Like ch in child.
h		h	Like h in hay.
k	g, c	k	Like k in king.
l		l	Like l in light.
ll	ly	ly	Like lli in million.
m		m	Like m in moon.
n		n	Like n in night.
ng		ŋ	Like ng in sing.
ny	ñ	ny	Like ny in canyon.
p	b	p	Like p in pine.
q		q	Like k, only pronounced further back on the palate..
qw		qw ~ qw	Like qu in queen, only pronounced further back on the palate.
r			Like the r in Spanish pero, somewhat like the tt in American English butter.
s		s	Like s in see.
sh	š		Like sh in shell.
t	d	t	Like t in time.
v	b	v ~ β	Like v in vine. Sometimes it is pronounced like the bilabial v in Spanish navidad instead.
w	u	w	Like w in way.
x	j	x	Raspy sound like the j in Spanish jalapeño.
xw	hw	xw	Light raspy sound like blowing out a candle.
y		j	Like y in yes.
’	, ?		A pause sound, like the one in the middle of the word "uh-oh."

Cahuilla Indian Pronunciation and Vocabulary Resources

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