The Kanza Alphabet
Letter
Pronunciation Guide
Web Form
Example
a
like a in father
a arm
an
like aun in haunt, but with less n
 an, a~, aN
manhín grass
b
like b in boy
be who
c
like ch in beach
ce buffalo
ch
like ch h in beach house
chin to strike
d
like d in doll
do potato
e
like e in met
ye to go
g
like g in girl
gízo to be happy
gh
like g in Spanish agua, a soft and breathy g, almost gargled
gháge cry
h
like h in hot
ho fish
i
like i in piano
ishtá eye
in
like ean in leaned, but with less n
 in, i~, iN
mínxci one
j
like j in joy
je lake
k
like k g in look good
ke turtle
kh
like k h in look happy
wakhózu corn
k'
like k, followed by catch in the throat
k'e to dig
l
like l in late
lo thunder
m
like m in met
míonba moon
n
like n in net
nonbá two
o
like how James Bond would say the word or
onánzhin pants
on
like one in phoned, but with less n
 on, o~, oN
donhé well, fine
p
like p b in slap back
péje fire
ph
like p h in top hat
phóke thud
p'
like p, followed by catch in the throat
yup'ínze blink
s
like s in set
sánhan off-white
sh
like sh in shot
shábe brown
t
like t d in let down
ta deer
t'
like t, followed by catch in the throat
nánxahu t'oxa camel
ts'
like ts, in cats followed by catch in the throat
ts'e dead
u
like ü in German über or u in French du
súhu clean
w
like w in wet
wazhínga bird
x
like ch in Scots loch or German Bach, a rough "throat clearing" h
xóje gray
y
like y in yet
yáli good
z
like z in zoo
zíhi yellow
zh
like g in garage or beige or s in treasure or leisure
zhan wood
'
like the pause in the middle of uh-oh.
'é'e that's the one