SETSWANA
Pronunciation Guide

Example of use in Setswana placed in brackets.

a - as a in father (aga)
b - as b in bat (bana)
d - like d in do (dira)
e - as e in exit (ema)
f - as f in farm (fofa)
g - as ch in loch (goga)
h - as h in ham (huduga)
i - as ea in eat (bina)
j - as j in job (ja)
k - as c in clerical (kopa)
l - as l in list (lema)
m - as m in mum (mae)
n - as n in now (nna)
ng - as ng in linger (ngaka)
o - as o in order (bona)
p - as p in pull (pitsa)
r - as r in rope (reka)
s - as s in say (sala)
š - as tion in station (seteišene) [s with an inverted circumflex]
šw - as sw in swift (mašwi)
t - as t in pot (tau)
tšh - as ch in church (ntšha)
u - as oo in book (bula)
w - as w in well (wena)
y - as y in yearn (yola)

(c, q, v, x and z are only found in loan words - see the Zulu page for more information on the click sounds: c, q and x.)

© J. Olivier (2009)
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