Indian languages
Indian tribes
What's new on our site today!

| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| a | ə | Like the a in above. | |
| aa | a:, a· | a![]() |
Like the a in father, only held longer. |
| e | e ~ æ | Like the e sound in Spanish, similar to the a in English gate. Sometimes it is pronounced more like the a in cat. | |
| ee | e:, e· | e![]() |
Like the a in gate, only held longer. |
| i | i | Like the i in police. | |
| ii | i:, i· | i![]() |
Like the i in police, only held longer. |
| o | o | Like the o in note. | |
| oo | o:, o· | o![]() |
Like the o in note, only held longer. |
| u | u | Like the u in flute. | |
| oo | u:, u· | u![]() |
Like the u in flute, only held longer. |
| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| ia | I | iə | Like the ia in Indian. |
| ua | U | uə | Like the ui in English ruin. |
| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| b | m, w | b ~ mb | Like b in bill. At the beginning of some words, it is pronounced more nasally. |
| ch | č, c |  t![]() |
Like ch in chair. |
| d | n, r | d ~ nd | Like d in day. At the beginning of some words, it is pronounced more nasally. |
| h | h | Like h in hay. | |
| k | k~kh~ky | Like the c in core or score. Before a front vowel like i, it is palatalized. | |
| l | r | l ~ r | Like l in light or the tapped "r" sound in a Spanish word like pero. |
| m | m | Like m in English moon. | |
| n | n | Like n in English night. | |
| p |  p ~ ph | Like the p in pin or spin. | |
| s | s | Like s in sing. | |
| sh | š | ![]() |
Like sh in show. |
| t | d |  t ~ th | Like the t in tar or star. |
| w |  w | Like w in English way. | |
| x |  x | Guttural sound that doesn't exist in English. Like ch in German ach. | |
| ’ | ![]() |
A pause sound, like the one in the middle of the word "uh-oh." |
| a or aa | low tone |
| á or áá | high tone |
| áa | falling tone |

Back to the Amerindian language homepage
Back to Native American Indian Words
Learn more about the Crow Indian tribe

Native Americans
Native American Art
Karuk Language
Native American Genealogy
Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?

Contacts and FAQ page