Wyandotte Pronunciation Guide
In this guide Wyandot words are written twice, the first time phonetically, the second time in square brackets [ ] an approximation of the pronunciation in English.
Oral Vowels
-a- [ah]
ahahkah [ah-hah-kah] He quit it.
ahkwah [ah-kwah] shoe (but not the word for moccasin)
-e- [eh]
kweh hello
yandehsekwah
[yan-deh-seh-kwah] birch, birchbark
-i- [as in ‘tipi’ or -ee- in feed]
yanditih [yan-dee-tee] It is made strong, firm.
yawastih [yah-wah-stee] It is good, beautiful.
-u- [as in ‘true’ or the -oo- in food]
uture [oo-too-reh] It is cold (weather).
utišraˀ [oo-tee-shrah-ah] tea
Nasal Vowels
These vowels are more challenging to the English speaker. Wyandot has three main nasal vowels.
ą [as with the -an- in the French and English word ‘bouffant’]
ukyesądi [oo-kyeh-san-dee] It became easy.
Tayeąndrak [tah-yeh-an-drahk Look at me! (Male Prairie Turtle clan name)
ę [as in French ‘chien’ or ‘bien’, or English ‘entrance’ (not pronouncing the -n)]
tižamęh [tee-zhah-menh] thank you
Amęnye ire [ah-menh-yeh ee-reh] On water, he walks (male Wyandot name of the 18th and 19th century)
ǫ [as in French ‘bon’ or English ‘tong’]
rǫndaǫ [ron-ndah-on] He has as a house.
ętrǫ [en-tron] nine
Consonants
Wyandotte consonants are mostly pronounced as in English. Here are three whose symbols are probably not familiar to you.
š [-sh- as in ‘shut’.
arahšu [ah-rah-shoo] It is a moccasin.
uhšatęh [ooh-shah-enh] It carries one on its back, a horse.
ž [-zh- as in the -s- in ‘pleasure’ or ‘leisure ]
ižukwas [ee-zhoo-kwahs] It is often windy.
užaˀ [oo-zhah] berry, fruit
ˀ- [This involves a sound much like repeating the vowel (as in the English un-uh)]
kaˀtuh [kah-ah-tooh] close to or close by
deˀka [deh-eh-kah] this