Unit 1

Vowels

Short Vowels

  • a   * ah in father
  • e   * eh in every
  • i/y   * i in inch
  • o   * o in ocean
  • u   * oo in stew

Long Vowels

  • á   * ah extended
  • ě   * e in mean
  • í   * ee in beet extended
  • ý   * ee in beet
  • ó   * ew in stew, but a bit more oo
  • ů   * oo in stool, but a bit more u

Dipthongs

  • au   * ow!, but deeper
  • ou   * oh!
  • aj   * ai in kite
  • ej   * ay in play, but extended
  • oj   * oi!
  • uj   * kinda like hooey without the h

==Stress is always on the first syllable==

Consonants

Pronounced normally

  • b
  • f
  • v
  • m
  • d
  • s
  • z
  • n
  • g

Pronounced differently

  • p, t, and k should be said without the puff of air   * put hand in front of mouth while saying to practice

  • h is more forceful (at back of mouth)

  • ch: keep tongue in the middle of saying k

  • j: y

  • c: ts

  • r is rolled

Letters with a háček

  • č   * ch
  • š   * sh
  • ž   * zheh sound/sh sound
  • ť   * softer
  • ď   * sort of like the d in dya
  • ň   * mm sound with n
  • ř   * smile wide and do a rolling r

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