Home Page    First Chapter

THE PALI ALPHABET
PRONUNCIATION OF LETTERS
(by Ven Nàrada)

 

a, as "u" in but

à, as "a" in art

i, as "i" in pin

ã, as "i" in machine

u, as "u" in put

u, as "u" in rule

e, as "e" in ten

¬¼, as "a" in fate

o, as "o" in hot

 , as "o" in note

k, as "k" in key

g, as "g" in get

ï, as "ng" in ring

c, as "ch" in rich

j, as "j" in jug

ñ, as "gn" in signor

ñ, as "t" in not

d, as "d" in hid

u, as "n" in hint

p, as "p" in lip

b, as "b" in rib

m, as "m" in him

y, as "y" in yard

r, as "r" in rat

l, as "l" in sell

v, as "v" in vile

s, as "s" in sit

h, as "h" in hut

ë, as "l" in felt

§, as "ng" in sing

The vowels "e" and "o" are always long, except when followed by a double consonant, eg., ettha, oññha.

There is no difference between the pronunciation of "ï" and "¬ß". The former never stands at the end, but is always followed by a consonant of its group.

The dentals "t" and "d" are pronounced with the tip of the tongue placed against the front upper teeth.

The aspirates "kh", "gh", "ñh", "dh", "th", "dh", "ph", "bh" are pronounced with "h" sound immediately following, as in blockhead, pighead, cathead, loghead, etc. where the "h" in each is combined with the preceding consonant in pronunciation.