Native American language
American Indian tribes
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| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| a | a | Like the a in father. | |
| aa | a· | a![]() |
Like a only held longer. |
| e | e | Like the e sound in Spanish, similar to the a in 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 | u | Like the u in flute. | |
| uu | u·, u: | u![]() |
Like u only held longer. |
| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| b | b | Like b in boy. | |
| ch | č | t![]() |
Like the soft ch in inch. |
| chh | č | t h |
Like ch in chair. |
| dy | dy | A d and y together, like the sound in the middle of French adieu. | |
| dz | dz | Like the ds in Edsel. | |
| f | f ~ φ | Like f in face, or like the f in Japanese Fuji (pronounced between the lips.). | |
| g | b | Like g in girl. | |
| h | j | h | Like h in hay. |
| j | ll | d![]() |
Like the j in jar. |
| k | c, qu | k | Like the soft k in skin. |
| kh | k, kk | kh | Like the hard k in key. |
| m | m ~ ![]() |
Like m in moon. Sometimes it is pronounced more breathily, as if whispered. | |
| n | n ~ ![]() |
Like n in night. Sometimes it is pronounced more breathily, as if whispered. | |
| ñ | ny ~ y |
Like ny in canyon. Sometimes it is pronounced more breathily, as if whispered. | |
| p | p | Like the soft p in spin. | |
| ph | p, pp | ph | Like the hard p in pin. |
| rr | zh | ![]() |
Like the j in French Jacques, or the ge in the English word garage. |
| s | s | Like s in sun. | |
| sh | x | ![]() |
Like sh in shell. |
| t | t | Like the soft t in still. | |
| th | t, tt | th | Like the hard t in till. |
| ts | c | ts | Like the soft ts in ants. |
| tsh | cc | tsh | Like the ts in tsunami. |
| ty | ty | A t and y together. Some British English speakers pronounce the beginning of tune this way. | |
| v | v ~ β | Like v in vine, or like the v in Spanish navidad (pronounced between the lips.) | |
| y | j | Like y in yes. | |
| ’ | h | ![]() |
A pause sound, like the one in the middle of the word "uh-oh." |

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