Afrikaans/Pronunciation

Pronunciation Guide
a - as u in c u p (kap) aa - as u in c u p but longer like ah (daad) aai - as y in wh y (laai) ae - as u in d u st but longer like ah, followed by article a (dae) b - similar to b in English c - as k in k itten (Calvinis) c - as s in s ize (celcius) ch - guttural sound like ch in lo ch (chemie) ch - as k in k itten (chloor) ch/sj - as sh in sh ot (China/Sjina) d - as d in d onkey (daar) d - as t in ha t (bed) e - as ee in d ee r ( e del) e - as e in h e n (ken) e - as e in ang e l (bevat) ê - as ai in h ai r (hê) ee - as ee in d ee r (een) eë/ië - as ea in f ea r, pronounced as two sounds (leër/skiër) eeu - as ew in f ew (leeu) ei - as ay in pl ay (seil) eu - as ee in d ee r with lips pouted (deur) eu - as ew in f ew (euforie) f - similar to f in English g - gutteral sound like ch in lo ch (geld) gh - as g in g olf (gholf) h - similar to h in English i - as e in ang e l (sit) ie - as ee in br ee d (dier) ie - as i in s i ck (siek) j - as y in y ou (jaar) kn - as c in c at + n in n o (knoop) ng - as ng in si ng (vang) o - as oo in l oo t followed by rapid w with pouted lips (bode) o - as oo in l oo t, but shorter (euforie) o - as o in f o rt but shorter (oggend) o - as oy in b oy (potjie) ô - as au in c au se (môre) oe - as oo in l oo t (voer) oe - as oo in l oo t, but shorter (voet) oë - as oe in d oe r (vermoë) oei - as ooey in ph ooey but preceded with rapid w (koei) oo - as oo in l oo t followed by rapid w with pouted lips (soom) ooi - as oi in oi l but preceded with rapid w (strooi) ou - as oa in c oa t (hout) p - similar to p in English r - as r in ve r y, but lightly rolled (duiker) r - strongly rolled r, almost Scots (rooi) s - similar to s in English t - similar to t in English tj - as ch in ch unk (tjank) u - as i in s i ck with lips pouted (u) ui - as ay in pl ay but longer with pouted lips (lui) uie - as aye in pl aye r but longer with pouted lips (beduie) uu - as ee in br ee d but with lips pouted (duur) v - as f in f un (vul) w - as w in s w eep (swem) w - as v in v isit (water) y - as ay in pl ay (yster) z - similar to z in English