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Pronunciation guide
The phonetic transcriptions in this dictionary use the phonetic alphabet of the IPA. They are generated on demand by an algorithm that I developed based on the pronunciation guide of the Speak Zulu With Us beginners course from African Voices.
In the following table you find examples of how to pronounce each of the IPA symbols in the context of this dictionary. I chose the English example recordings with respect to matching the Zulu pronunciation as close as possible. They do not correspond as to the meanings nor do they necessarily conform to your personal way of pronouncing them. So don't blame me for that. :-)
The phonetic symbols are best viewed with the Doulos SIL font.
List of sources
IPA recordings.
By permission.
From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary
(www.Merriam-Webster.com).
By permission.
From the African Voices Speak Zulu With Us beginners course
(www.africanvoices.co.za).
| IPA symbol | Zulu example | English example (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| [ˈ] | The following syllable is stressed. | |
| [:] | The preceding vowel is lengthened. | |
| [a] |
amakhaza [amaˈkʰaza]
|
buck [bak]
|
| [e] |
umgibeli [umgiˈɓe:li]
|
bayed [bejd]
|
| [ɛ] |
ihembe [iˈhɛ:mbe]
|
bed [bɛd]
|
| [i] |
isibili [isiˈɓi:li]
|
bead [bi:d]
|
| [o] |
iGoli [iˈgo:li]
|
soil [soil]
|
| [ɔ] |
ogogo [ɔˈgɔ:go]
|
saw [sɔ:]
|
| [u] |
ubusuku [uɓuˈsu:ɠu]
|
look [luk]
|
| [ɓ] |
ubisi [uˈɓi:si]
|
An implosive b, as if sucking in on a pipe. |
| [b] |
ubhuti [uˈbu:ti]
|
buck [bak]
|
| [d] |
dade [ˈda:de]
|
die [dai]
|
| [ɮ] |
ukudla [uˈɠu:ɮa]
|
|
| [ʤ] |
uju [ˈu:ʤu]
|
jump [ʤamp]
|
| [f] |
ifu [ˈi:fu]
|
fie [fai]
|
| [ɠ] |
ukupheka [uɠuˈpʰɛ:ɠa]
|
A very soft g. |
| [g] |
ogogo [ɔˈgɔ:go]
|
guy [gai] |
| [k] |
iKapa [iˈka:pa]
|
scat [skæt]
|
| [kʰ] |
ikhanda [iˈkʰa:nda]
|
kite [kʰait]
|
| [h] |
ihembe [iˈhɛ:mbe]
|
high [hai]
|
| [h̬] |
ihhovisi [ih̬oˈvi:si]
|
A voiced h. |
| [ɬ] |
isihlahla [isiˈɬa:ɬa]
|
|
| [j] |
yebo [ˈjɛ:ɓo]
|
yes [jes]
|
| [l] |
leli [ˈle:li]
|
|
| [m] |
mama [ˈma:ma]
|
my [mai]
|
| [n] |
nina [ˈni:na]
|
nigh [nai]
|
| [ŋ] |
amanga [aˈma:ŋa]
|
hang [hæŋ]
|
| [ɲ] |
inyosi [iˈɲo:si]
|
|
| [p] |
ipentshisi [ipenˈtʃi:si]
|
spy [spai]
|
| [pʰ] |
isiphukuphuku [isipʰuɠuˈpʰu:ɠu]
|
pie [pʰai]
|
| [r] | ||
| [s] |
isisu [iˈsi:su]
|
sigh [sai]
|
| [ʃ] |
ishiya [iˈʃi:ya]
|
shy [ʃai]
|
| [t] |
isitambu [isiˈta:mbu]
|
stack [stæk] |
| [tʰ] |
isithathu [isiˈtʰa:tʰu]
|
tie [tʰai]
|
| [v] |
iva [ˈi:va]
|
vie [vai]
|
| [w] |
wena [ˈwe:na]
|
why [wai]
|
| [z] |
umzuzu [umˈzu:zu]
|
zap [zæp]
|
| [ǀ] |
ukucula [uɠuˈǀu:la]
|
|
| [ǀʰ] |
ukuchaza [uɠuˈǀʰa:za]
|
|
| [g͡ǀ] |
isigcobo [isiˈg͡ǀɔ:ɓo]
|
|
| [n͡ǀ] |
incwancwa [iˈn͡ǀwa:n͡ǀwa] |
|
| [ŋ͡ǀ] |
ukungcwaba [uɠuˈŋ͡ǀwa:ɓa]
|
|
| [ǃ] |
iqaqa [iˈǃa:ǃa]
|
|
| [ǃʰ] |
iqhude [iˈǃʰu:de]
|
|
| [g͡ǃ] |
ugqozi [uˈg͡ǃo:zi]
|
|
| [n͡ǃ] |
inqola [iˈn͡ǃɔ:la]
|
|
| [ŋ͡ǃ] |
ingqondo [iˈŋ͡ǃɔ:ndo]
|
|
| [ǁ] |
xoxa [ˈǁɔ:ǁa]
|
|
| [ǁʰ] |
ukuxhasa [uɠuˈǁʰa:sa] |
|
| [g͡ǁ] |
ukugxoba [uɠuˈg͡ǁɔ:ɓa] |
|
| [n͡ǁ] |
inxeba [iˈn͡ǁɛ:ɓa]
|
|
| [ŋ͡ǁ] |
ingxenye [iˈŋ͡ǁɛ:ɲe]
|
|