e has 2 pronunciations. If the e is followed by a i or u then it is pronounced like the e in the word bed. When the e is followed by the letter a then it is pronounced like the a in the word bat.
i is pronounced as ee like in the word bee.
o has 2 pronunciations. When o is followed by the letter a it is pronounced like the letter a in the word paw. If the o is followed by the letters i or u then it is pronounced like the letter o in the word go.
u is pronounced like the oo sound you make when you say food.
Semi Vowels
y is pronounced like the y in the word yes
w is pronounced like the w in the word want
Consonants
f is pronounced like the f in the word fall
v is pronounced like the v in the word van
sh is pronounced like the sh in the word shoe
tsh is pronounced like the ch in the word charge
th is pronounced like the t in the word tea
t is pronounced like the t in the word stay
ph is pronounced like the p in the word pen
p is pronounced like the p in the word spoon
kh is pronounced like the c in the word can't
k has 2 pronunciations 1 is pronounced like the g in the word google. The other k sound is like the letter c in the word cat.
g is pronounced like the g in the word game
n is pronounced like the n in the english word except when n is followed by a k or g then it is pronounced like the ng in the word ring.
ng is pronounced like the ng in the word finger
ny is pronounced like the gn in the word vignette
d is pronounced like the d in the word duck
b has 2 pronunciations. If b is followed by a m then it sounds like the the english b like in the word ball. If is not followed by m then it pronounced like the buh sound when saying the name bubba
bh the b is pronounced like the b in the word ball and the h is pronounced like the p in the word pot. A example of a zulu word is ibhola (meaning ball)
h is pronounced like the h in the word handsome
hh is pronounced like the h in the word high
hl here's one of those intresting sounds. You have to press the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth. Put the rest of the tongue at the roof of your mouth then blow air out your mouth. Both sides of your jaws should blow air out.
dl is pronounced like the hl sound you just got through doing. Just say the letter d then make the sound
j is pronounced like the j in the word just.
Click Sounds
In the Zulu language some letters are pronounced with clicking sounds. To get a feel of what these sounds are like, we have included a video below. The language the man is speaking is not zulu, it is Xhosa but the clicking sounds are the same. Remember in the beginning you read that Xhosa is part of the Nguni Language group.
C Press the front of your tongue firmly against your gums just behind your front teeth. Then flatten the rest of your tongue against the top of you mouth. Now suck the tip of your tongue backwards till it makes the clicking sound. Most of us used to make this sound when we were young.
q Repeat the same steps as above but instead of sucking the tip of your tongue backwards. You let the whole front half of your tongue flip backwards. It should sound like you popped open the cork on a champaigne bottle. Keep practicing until you have that sound.
x if you've watched a cowboy calling a horse then this sound will be easy for you. All you do is twist your lips to one side. Open that side of the mouth only and then do what they call "sucking your teeth" and there you have it.
For now we have the basics. As time goes on you'll improve on those clicks. Like they say, "Practice makes perfect." On that note we're going to end todays lesson. Keep practicing Lesson 1 until Lesson 2 is posted. Just like the English language, you had to learn your vowels and consonants before you moved on to actually learning how to pronounce words correctly.
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