ISIZULU
Pronunciation Guide

a - as a in father
b - like b in English but slightly softer
bh - b (break in voicing before saying - pronounce as if it is the first sound in word)
ch - dental click (see note below)
d - d (break in voicing before saying - pronounce as if it is the first sound in word)
dl - similar to ll in Llewellyn
e - as e in send
f - as f in fat
g - as g in guinea (break in voicing before saying - pronounce as if it is the first sound in word)
gc - dental click (see note below)
gq - palatal click (see note below)
gx - lateral click (see note below)
h - as h in how
hh - as h in hotel
hl - similar to ll in Llewellyn
i - as ea in tea
j - as j in join (break in voicing before saying - pronounce as if it is the first sound in word)
k - as g in good
k - as ck in tick
kh - as c in call, followed by a strong rush of air
kl - combination of k and first sound in Llewellyn
l - as l in lull
m - as m in mum
n - as n in nun
nc - dental click (see note below)
ng - as ng in linger
nq - palatal click (see note below)
nx - lateral click (see note below)
ny - similar to ny in Kenya
o - as a in all
p - as p in tip
ph - as p in push, followed by a strong rush of air
qh - palatal click (see note below)
s - as s in say
sh - as sh in show
t - as t in pot
th - as t in take, followed by a strong rush of air
ts - as ts in pots, but sharper
tsh - like ch in cheese, but with a more forceful puff of air
u - as o in to
v - as v in vain
w - as w in well
xh - lateral click (see note below)
y - as y in you
z - as z in zoo


CLICKS IN ISIZULU
To pronounce the dental click, c, press the tip of the tongue against the front teeth, and then withdraw it sharply, at the same time dropping the back of the tongue from the soft palate. This sound may be compared with the sound you would make when sucking something from your upper teeth, or the sound of sympathy when someone says ts-ts.

To pronounce the palatal click, q, press the tip of the tongue against the front palate and then follow with the same procedure as with c. This sound may be compared with the sound a person would make when trying to imitate the sound of a cork being pulled from a bottle.

To pronounce the lateral click, x, place the  tip of the tongue against the hard palate as if you were going to produce the n sound. Press one side of the tongue against the side of the jaw. Then, without shifting the tip of the tongue from the hard palate, withdraw the side sharply from the jaw. This sound differs from the other two in that the release takes place at the side(s) of the tongue and not at the front. This sound is sometimes made to express regret or to spur on a horse.