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The following charts show the pronunciation for the Comanche orthography we have used on our site, as well as some alternate spellings that you may find in other books and websites.
Vowels| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| a | a | Like the a in father. | |
| aa | a![]() |
Like a only held longer. | |
| e | e | Like Spanish e, similar to 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. | |
| o | o | Like the o in note. | |
| oo | o![]() |
Like o only held longer. | |
| u | u | Like the u in flute. | |
| uu | u![]() |
Like u only held longer. | |
| |
ə | Like the a in about. | |
| |
ə![]() |
Like |
Voiceless Vowels| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: |
| a | ![]() |
![]() |
| e | ![]() |
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| i | ![]() |
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| o | ![]() |
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| u | ![]() |
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Diphthongs| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| ai | ay | aj | Like English eye. |
| oi | oy | oj | Like the oy in boy. |
Consonants| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| b | v | β | Bilabial v as in Spanish navidad. It resembles an English v sound but is pronounced between the two lips instead of with the top teeth against your lip. |
| h | j | h | Like h in hay. |
| k | g, c, qu | k | Like the soft k in sky. |
| kw | qu, cu | kw ~ kw | Like qu in English square. |
| m | m | Like m in moon. | |
| n | n | Like n in night. | |
| p | b | p | Like the soft p in spy. |
| r | ![]() |
Like the tt in English butter. | |
| s | s | Like s in see. | |
| t | d | t | Like the soft t in star. |
| ts | tz, ch | ts | Like ts in cats. |
| w | u | 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." |
Stress
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