Let's start with phonics.

The Sounds


A  almost always like the a in almost and always.


B  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

C  like the second c in conceive.


D  pronounced almost like a t, as in the Irish Gaelic ta, or like the d in German.


E at the end of words, it's a schwa sound, like the first e in believe. At the beginning of words, it's like the ei in weigh.


F  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

G  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

H at the end of words: more aspirated, like the h in Finnish when it comes before a consonant; at the beginning or in the middle of words: barely aspirated, like the h in the Spanish language.

I  halfway between the i in into and the i in king; when paired with a as ai, it's pronounced like the y in sky.


J  like the y in young.


K  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

L  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

M  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

N  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

O  halfway between the o in oh and the o in job.


P  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

R  rolled or trilled, as in Finnish or Spanish.

S  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

T  see d.


U  like the u in tube.


V  almost like an f.


W  here's the tricky one: the sound's kind of like vwha. Like in voila.

Y  a long e sound, like the e in meet.


Z  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

SH  exactly as it's pronounced in English.

ZH  like the j in French, or transliterated zh in Chinese.

KH  like the "phlegm" in Akhmed.


AE  like the igh in high.