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Akimel and Tohono O'odham Pronunciation and Spelling Guide (Pima and Papago)

O'odham Vowels

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	O'odham pronunciation:
a		a	Like the a in father.
ah	a:, aa	a	Like a only held longer.
e		i ~	Somewhat like the e in roses. Pima speakers pronounce it more like the u in cut.
eh	e:, ee	i ~	Like e only held longer.
i		i	Like the i in police.
ih	i:, ii	i	Like i only held longer.
o		o ~	Like the o in note or the au in caught.
oh	o:, oo	o ~	Like o only held longer.
u		u	Like the u in flute.
uh	u:, uu	u	Like u only held longer.

O'odham Diphthongs

O'odham Consonants

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	O'odham pronunciation:
b		b	Like b in big.
ch	c, č	t	Like ch in chair.
d	d, d		No equivalent in American English. This is a retroflex d, pronounced with the tongue touching the back of the palate. You may recognize this sound if you've heard people from India speaking English.
g		g	Like g in good.
h		h	Like h in hay.
j		d	Like j in jar.
k		k	Like the soft k in skate.
l		l~ɭ	Like l in light. Some speakers pronounce it as a retroflex l instead, with the tongue curled back in the mouth as the l sound is pronounced.
m		m	Like m in moon.
n	ñ	n ~ nj	Like n in night. Before an i or u, it is pronounced like the ny in canyon instead.
p		p	Like the soft p in spy.
s		s	Like s in see.
sh	s, š	~	Traditionally this is a retroflex sound, pronounced far back in the mouth and sounding somewhat like the sh sound in harsh. Younger speakers often pronounce it like the sh in shell.
t		t	Like the soft t in star.
th	d	~	Like the d in day, only pronounced with the tongue against the teeth, as it is in Spanish. Also like Spanish, this sound is sometimes pronounced more like the th in then.
w		w ~ β	Like w in way. Between vowels it is often pronounced like the v in Spanish navidad.
v		v	Like v in vine. This sound only exists in Akimel O'odham (Pima) pronunciation.
y		j	Like y in yes.
’			A pause sound, like the one in the middle of the word "uh-oh."

Pima-Papago Pronunciation and Vocabulary Resources

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