Resigaro Pronunciation and Spelling Guide

˜Vowels

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.

˜Consonants

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	th	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."

Back to Indian Cultures
Back to Native American Indian Words
Back to the Indians of Peru



Native Names Alabama Coushatta Indians Ataniel Fiction Indian Tattoos

Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?

or buy some books through this link:

Native Languages of the Americas website © 1998-2007 Contacts and FAQ page