By Iem Brown
| a |
i |
u |
| /a/ is always pronounced like the English /a/ in ‘far’; ‘car’; ‘jar’ |
/i/ is always pronounced like the English /ee/ in ‘bee’; ‘teeth’ |
/u/ is always pronounced like the English /oo/ in ‘tooth’; ‘book’ |
| Example: |
Example: |
Example: |
| saya - I |
ini - this |
buku - book |
| apa - what |
sini - here |
guru - teacher |
| kaya - rich |
gila - crazy |
suhu - temperature |
| makan - eat |
kami - we |
malu - shy |
| tanam - plant |
indah - beautiful |
pintu - door |
Vowel /e/ has two different sounds.
| e |
é |
| A weak one like the English /e/ in ‘children’; ‘her’; ‘per’ |
It is pronounced like the English /e/ in ‘pen’; ‘bet’ |
| Example: |
Example: |
| emas - gold |
énak - delicious |
| beras - rice |
kakék - grandfather |
| dekat - near |
soré - afternoon |
| pergi - go |
béla - defend |
| sekarang - now |
sétan - ghost |
Vowel /o/ has two different sounds also.
| o |
o |
| The first one is like the English /o/ in ‘cold’; ‘bold’ |
The second one is pronounced like the English /o/ in ‘hot’; ’shot’ |
| Example: |
Example: |
| toko - shop |
tonton - watch |
| orang - person |
sombong - arogan |
| obat - medicine |
roti - bread |
| kado - gift |
tolong - help |
| perangko - stamp |
bohong - lie |
A combination of /a/ and /i/ becomes a two-vowel sound and the diphthongs
Unfortunately there is no way of knowing whether the combination of this two vowels becomes a diphthong or just a two-vowel sound. You will know it by practice and memorizing.
| Two- Vowel Sound |
Diphthongs |
| /a/ and /i/ is pronounced individually |
Diphtong /ai/ is pronounced like the English ‘my’; ‘tie’ |
| Example |
Example |
| air - water |
pantai - beach |
| main - play |
bagaimana - how |
| lain - other |
selesai - finish |
| baik - well |
damai - peace |
| kain - cloth |
capai - reach |
A combination of /a/ and /u/ becomes a two-vowel sound and the diphthongs
| Two- Vowel Sound |
Diphthongs |
| /a/ and /u/ is pronounced individually |
Diphtong /au/ is pronounced like the English ‘cow’; ‘how’ |
| Example |
Example |
| haus - thirsty |
harimau - tiger |
| daun - leaf |
engkau - you |
| mau - want |
kerbau - buffalo |
| laut - ocean |
pulau - island |
| bau - smell |
danau - lake |
A combination of /i/ and /a/; /i/ and /u/; /i/ and /o/; /u/ and /a/; /u/ and /i/ becomes a two-vowel sound.
| /i/ and /a/ |
/i/ and /u/ |
/i/ and /o/ |
/u/ and /a/ |
/u/ and /i/ |
| dia - he/she |
tiup - blow |
biola - violin |
suami - husband |
bui - jail |
| biar - let |
cium - kiss |
kios - kiosk |
kuat - strong |
kuil - temple |
| liar - wild |
siul - whistle |
pionir - pioneer |
buah - fruit |
puing - debris |
| tiang - pole |
liur - saliva |
|
tua - old |
buih - foam |
| siang - noon |
hiu - shark |
|
dua - two |
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