Tzotzil Maya Pronunciation and Spelling Guide

˜Vowels

˜Diphthongs

˜Consonants

Character We Use:	Sometimes Also Used:	IPA symbol:	How To Pronounce It:
b		b ~ б ~ m	Like b in boy. Many Maya speakers pronounce this sound implosively, as if they were 'swallowing' the b sound, similar to the way b is pronounced in Vietnamese. At the end of a word this sound is pronounced like an m.
c	qu, k	kh	Like k in key.
c'	qu', q'u, k',		Like c, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
ch	č	t	Like ch in chair.
ch'	č', chh, 'ch	t	Like ch, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
j	h	h ~ x	Like h in hay. Sometimes it is pronounced more raspily, like the j in Spanish jalapeño
l		l	Like l in light.
m		m	Like m in moon.
n		n	Like n in night.
p		ph	Like the p in pie.
p'	pp		Like p, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
qu	c, k	kh	Like k in key.
q'u	c', qu', k',		Like qu, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
r			Like Spanish r, somewhat like the tt in English butter.
s	z	s	Like the s in sun.
t		th	Like the t in tell.
t'	tt		Like t, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
tz	ts, ¢	ts	Like ts in cats.
tz'	ts', , ¢'	t	Like tz, only glottalized (pronounced with a pop of air.)
v	w, gu, vu, hu	v ~ w	Like v in vine. Sometimes it is pronounced more like the w in wine.
x	š, sh		Like sh in shell.
y	ll	j	Like y in yes.
’	7		A pause sound, like the one in the middle of the word "uh-oh."

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