Tchiroe/Lesson 1

Tchiroe uses the English alphabet, minus Q and X. Most consonants are pronounced as in English except- J is pronounced as an English Y, C as S, S as Z, and Z as English J.

Consonant clusters are:
 * ch- Sh eep
 * dh- Th ese
 * sh- Plea s ure
 * tch- Ch eese
 * th- Wi th

The vowels are A, E, I, O, U, and Y.
 * A- F a ther
 * E- C a re
 * I- B ee
 * O- P aw
 * U- B oo t
 * Y- A bout


 * ai- M y
 * ao- C ow
 * ie- P e t
 * ii- B i t
 * oe- T oe


 * oei- B oy


 * oeai- Why

Syllables are (C)V(C) If there is no initial an apostrophe takes its place. If multiple consonants make up the initial or final, an apostrophe goes between it and the next syllable. Only one can be between any two syllables.

A grave accent ( ` ) marks stress, and an acute accent, like on á, marks a rising tone like on English "What?".

A conversational greeting: A: Lìdia kaibòenav ec, nó? B: Ta ec, hè detu dìa ec? A: Ta ec.

A conversational farewell: A (who is staying): Ka tu pacakóen tchectòei. B (who is leaving): Dankoeth, hè ka tu pacakóen tchecvantòei.