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Chuj Mayan Pronunciation and Spelling Guide

Welcome to our Chuj alphabet page! The following charts show the pronunciation for the Chuj alphabet we have used on our site, as well as some alternate orthographies that you may find in other books and websites.

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Chuj Vowels

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	Chuj pronunciation:
a		a	Like the a in father.
aa	a·, a:	a	Like a only held longer.
e		e	Like the Spanish e, similar to the a in English 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.
o		o	Like the o in note.
oo	o·, o:	o	Like o only held longer.
u	ū	u	Like the u in flute.
uu	u·, u:	u	Like u only held longer.

Chuj Diphthongs

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	Chuj pronunciation:
ay	ai	aj	Like English eye.
ey	ei	ej	Like ey in English they.
oy	oi	oj	Like oy in English boy.
uy	ui	uj	like the uoy in English buoy.

Chuj Consonants

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	Chuj pronunciation:
b'	b, b:	б	Like b in boy, only implosive. To English speakers, it sounds as if Maya speakers are 'swallowing' the b sound, similar to the way b is pronounced in Vietnamese.
ch	č	t	Like ch in chair.
ch'	č', chh, 'ch	t	Like ch, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
h	j	h	Like the h in hay.
j	h, x	x	Like the raspy j in Spanish jalapeño.
k	c, qu	k	Like k in key.
k'	c', qu', q'u,		Like k, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
l		l	Like l in light.
m		m	Like m in moon.
n		n	Like n in night.
nh	ŋ, ng, ñ, gn	ŋ	Like ng in sing.
p		p	Like the p in pie.
q	k	q	Like k only pronounced further back in the throat. The Chuj pronunciation of this sound is similar to the q in Arabic.
q'	k', 'k,		Like q, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
r			Like Spanish r, somewhat like the tt in English butter.
s	z	s	Like the s in sun.
t		t	Like the t in tell.
t'	tt		Like t, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
tz	ts, c, ¢	ts	Like ts in cats.
tz'	ts', c', , ¢', 'tz	t	Like tz, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
w	v, u, hu, vu	w	Like w in way.
x	š, sh, c		Like sh in shell.
y		j	Like y in yes.
’	7		A pause sound, like the one in the middle of the word "uh-oh."

Chuj Indian Pronunciation and Vocabulary Resources

   Chuj words
   Chuj picture dictionary
   Maya languages