1.02 Pronunciation Guide

Question 1

a

Answer 1

Amata (milk)
prounced like ah
ah-mah-tah

Question 2

e

Answer 2

Ejo (tomorrow)
prounouced like pay
ay-joh

Question 3

i

Answer 3

Ifi (fish)
pronounced like fee
ee-fee

Question 4

o

Answer 4

ijoro
pronouced like obey
ee-joh-roh

Question 5

u

Answer 5

umuti (medicine)
pronounced like rule
oo-moo-tee

Question 6

b

Answer 6

ibaba (wing)
soft sound with lips barely touching

Question 7

c

Answer 7

umuco (culture)
ch sound as in church
oo-moo-choh

Question 8

j

Answer 8

ejo (tomorrow)
soft like z in azure
ay-zhoh

Question 9

g

Answer 9

igi (egg)
umugeni (bride)
If the g is followed by a i or e, pronouced as g is combined with y.

ee-gyee
oo-moo-gyay-nee

Question 10

k

Answer 10

iki? (what)
umuneke (banana)
if the k is followed by an i or e, pronouced as if k is combined with y.
​
ee-kyee
oo-moo-nay-kyee

Question 11

l, r

Answer 11

L and R are often pronuonced the same - and closer to an r sound.

If L is in a word, it usually from a foreign word.
telefone

tay-ray-foh-nay or
tay-lay-foh-nay

Question 12

bw

Answer 12

ubwato
prounced bg

oo-bgah-toh

Question 13

rw

Answer 13

Rwanda
combination has a slight g sound between r and w.

Rgwah-ndah

Question 14

by

Answer 14

umubyeyi (parent)

combination has a slight g sound between b and y.

oo-moo-bygay-yee

Question 15

ry

Answer 15

ibiryo (food)

combination has a slight g sound between r and y.

ee-bee-rgyoh

Question 16

jw

Answer 16

ijwi (voice)

combination has a slight g sound between y and w.

ee-jgwee

Question 17

ty

Answer 17

gutya (like this)

combination has a slight k sound between t and y.

goo-tkyah

Question 18

sw

Answer 18

umuswa (termite)

combination has a slight qw sound between s and w.

oo-moo-sqwah

Question 19

tw

Answer 19

amatwi (ears)

combination has a slight qw sound between t and w.

ah-mah-tqwee

Question 20

cy

Answer 20

icyumba (room)

combination is a slight q sound

ee-qyoo-mbah

Question 21

ky

Answer 21

kujya (to go)

combination is a slight gy sound

koo-gyah

Question 22

shy

Answer 22

ibishyimbo

shy is a shy sound with a slight hiss sound

ee-bee-shyee-mboh

Question 23

nt

Answer 23

intara (province)

nt has a nasal sound

ee-nthaa-rah

Question 24

nk

Answer 24

inka (cow)

nh has a nasal sound

ee-nkhah

Question 25

mp

Answer 25

impano (gift)

mp has a nasal sound

ee-mhah-noh

Question 26

mw

Answer 26

umwana (child)
pronounced mŋ
oo-mŋah-nah

Question 27

nyw

Answer 27

kunywa (to drink)
pronounced ŋw
koo-ŋwah

Question 28

ny

Answer 28

inyanya (tomatoes)
ee-ŋah-ŋah

Question 29

my

Answer 29

imyembe (mangoes)

ee-mnyay-mbay