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The following charts show the pronunciation for the Tuscarora 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 | u | a ~ ![]() |
Like the a in father or the au in caught. |
| a: | a·, aa | a![]() |
Like the a in father, only held longer. |
| e | eh | ε ~ æ | Like the e in set or the a in sat. |
| e: | e·, eh | ε![]() |
Like the e in get, only held longer. |
| i | ee | i ~ I | Like the i in police or i in pit. |
| i: | i·, ee | i![]() |
Like the i in police, only held longer. |
| u | oo | u ~ o | Like the u in flute or the o in note. |
| u: | o:, o·, oo | u![]() |
Like the u in flute, only held longer. |
Nasal Vowels| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: |
| ę | e, enh | ~ ![]() |
| ę: | e:, ęę, eenh | ![]() ~ ![]() ![]() |
Consonants| Character We Use: |
Sometimes Also Used: |
IPA symbol: | How To Pronounce It: |
| d | t | d | Like d in day. |
| f | f | Like f in fair. Only pronounced in the Tuscarora Nation dialect. | |
| g | k | g | Like g in good. |
| h | h | Like h in English hay. | |
| ch | t ~ d![]() |
Like ch in char or j in jar. | |
| k | g | k ~ kh | Like the soft k in ski or the hard k in key. |
| n | n | Like n in night. | |
| r | r | Like r in English red. | |
| s | sh, c | s ~ ![]() |
Like s in sell. Before y it is pronounced more like the sh in shell. |
| t | d | t ~ th | Like the soft t in sty or the hard t in tie. |
| th | θ | θ | Like the th in think. Only pronounced in the Tuscarora Nation dialect. |
| w | 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." |

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