Initials Flashcards
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j
ji
churchyard, Jeep
No equivalent in English, but similar to an unaspirated “-chy-“ sound when said quickly. Like q, but unaspirated. Not the s in Asia, despite the common English pronunciation of “Beijing”.
q
pun_ch y_ourself, cheese
No equivalent in English. Like punch yourself, with the lips spread wide with ee. Curl the tip of the tongue downwards to stick it at the back of the teeth and strongly aspirate.
x
sheep, pu_sh y_ourself
No equivalent in English. Like -sh y-, with the lips spread and the tip of your tongue curled downwards and stuck to the back of teeth when you say ee.
z
kids, reads
unaspirated c, similar to something between suds and cats; as in suds in a toneless syllable
c
Ci hats
Like the English ts in cats, but strongly aspirated.
y
yea
As in yes. Before a u, pronounce it with rounded lips. Note on y and w
Zh
junk, badge
Rather like ch (a sound between choke, joke, true, and drew, tongue tip curled more upwards). Voiced in a toneless syllable.
Ch
church
As in chin, but with the tongue curled upwards; very similar to nurture in American English, but strongly aspirated.
Sh
shirt
As in shoe, but with the tongue curled upwards; very similar to marsh in American English
r
ray
Similar to the English z in azure and r in reduce, but with the tongue curled upwards, like a cross between English “r” and French “j”.
w
way
As in water. Note on y and w
g
skill
Unaspirated k, as in skill
a
father
o
aw in saw
e
ir in bird
i
ee in see
u
oo in too
v
yo in you
ng
ng in sing
b
spit
Unaspirated p, as in spit
p
pay
Strongly aspirated p, as in spit
m
may
As in English mummy
f
fair
as in English fun
d
stop
Unaspirated t, as in stop
t
take
strongly aspirated t, as in top
n
nay
as in English nit
i
lay
as in English love
k
kay
strongly aspirated k, as in skill
h
loch
roughly like the Scots ch
English h as in hay or, more closely in some American dialects, hero is an acceptable approximation.
s
say
as in sun
