An Introduction to the Esperanto alphabet

The Esperanto alphabet contains twenty eight letters. Twenty two of these are the same as standard English letters; there are six special letters.

In the following, and in other lessons, the special letters, shown above, are indicated by a following letter 'x'.

RULE: Every sound corresponds to one letter and every letter corresponds to one sound.

The letters are:

A -- pronounced like the A in PAPA, FATHER. pala, sana
B -- pronounced like the English B. bano, rabo
C -- pronounced like the TS in TSAR, RATS. laca, caro
Cx -- pronounced like the CH in CHURCH. acxa, cxamo
D -- pronounced like the D in DAD. dato, ada
E -- pronounced like the E in PET, LED, REP. de, pale
F -- pronounced like the F in FAT, LEFT. pafi, felo
G -- pronounced the the G in GAG, GET. agi, gemo
Gx -- pronounced like the G in GEM, FUDGE. agxo, gxemi
H -- pronounced like the H in HORSE. halo, homo
Hx -- pronounced like the german CH in ACH. hxoro, ehxo
I -- pronounced like the E in ME. fina, ido
J -- pronounced like the Y in YET, BOY. jono, ejo
Jx -- pronounced like the S in PLEASURE. jxus, ajxo
K -- pronounced like the K in KID, BLOCK. kelo, ekbrili
L -- pronounced like the L in LID, BILL. lumo, rolo
M -- pronounced like the M in MAT, RUM. muso, ema
N -- pronounced like the N in NUT, BUN. nazo, dankon
O -- pronounced like the O in NOTE, VOTE. oro, povas
P -- pronounced like the P in PUSH, CUP. porko, kapo
R -- pronounced with a very slight burr. ruza, moro
S -- pronounced like the S in SING, BUS. sidi, aso
Sx -- pronounced like the SH in SHIP, BUSH. sxultro, masxo
T -- pronounced like the T in TAKE, CUT. temi, kato
U -- pronounced like the OO in BOOT. utero, multaj
Ux -- pronounced like the W in BROW. hodiaux, Euxropo
V -- pronounced like the V in VAT, CAVE. vazo, lavi
Z -- pronounced like the Z in ZOOM, BUZZ. zomi, frazo
Aj -- pronounced like the EY in EYE. bonaj
Ej -- pronounced like the long English A in MATE. vejno
Oj -- pronounced like the OY in BOY. bojkoti
Uj -- pronounced like the UJ in HALLELUJAH. prujno
Aux-- pronounced like the OW in BROWN. morgaux
Eux-- pronounced like the AYW in WAYWARD, but without the Y. neuxtrala

You should have noticed by now that the accent always falls on
the next-to-last vowel.

You can hear the alphabet spoken here.

Send questions and suggestions to

DonHarlow <donh1@netcom.com>

This document contains a "mailto" link. If you want to send questions, advice and comments, check your browser's command list to learn how to use it to send messages to the document's owner. I welcome your comments.