Zulu pronunciation guide

The phonetic transcriptions in this dictionary use the phonetic alphabet of the IPA. They are generated on-the-fly by an algorithm I developed based on the pronunciation guide of the Speak Zulu With Us beginners course from African Voices.

The following table shows examples of how to pronounce each of the IPA symbols in the context of this dictionary. I chose the English example recordings with respect to matching the Zulu pronunciation as close as possible. They do not correspond as to the meanings nor do they necessarily conform to your personal way of pronouncing them. So don't blame me for that. :-)

List of sources
IPA recording IPA recordings.
Merriam-Webster recording By permission. From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary (www.Merriam-Webster.com).
African Voices recording By permission. From the African Voices Speak Zulu With Us beginners course (www.africanvoices.co.za).

IPA symbol Zulu example English example (approx.)
[ˈ] The following syllable is stressed.
[:] The preceding vowel is lengthened.
[a] African Voices recording amakhaza [amaˈkʰaza] Merriam-Webster recording buck [bak]
[e] African Voices recording umgibeli [umgiˈɓe:li] IPA recording bayed [bejd]
[ɛ] African Voices recording ihembe [iˈhɛ:mbe] IPA recording bed [bɛd]
[i] African Voices recording isibili [isiˈɓi:li] IPA recording bead [bi:d]
[o] African Voices recording iGoli [iˈgo:li] Merriam-Webster recording soil [soil]
[ɔ] African Voices recording ogogo [ɔˈgɔ:go] Merriam-Webster recording saw [sɔ:]
[u] African Voices recording ubusuku [uɓuˈsu:ɠu] Merriam-Webster recording look [luk]
[ɓ] African Voices recording ubisi [uˈɓi:si] An implosive b, as if sucking in on a pipe.
[b] African Voices recording ubhuti [uˈbu:ti] Merriam-Webster recording buck [bak]
[d] African Voices recording dade [ˈda:de] IPA recording die [dai]
[ʤ] African Voices recording uju [ˈu:ʤu] Merriam-Webster recording jump [ʤamp]
[f] African Voices recording ifu [ˈi:fu] IPA recording fie [fai]
[ɠ] African Voices recording ukupheka [uɠuˈpʰɛ:ɠa] A very soft g.
[g] African Voices recording ogogo [ɔˈgɔ:go] IPA recording guy [gai]
[k] African Voices recording iKapa [iˈka:pa] Merriam-Webster recording scat [skæt]
[kʰ] African Voices recording ikhanda [iˈkʰa:nda] IPA recording kite [kʰait]
[h] African Voices recording ihembe [iˈhɛ:mbe] IPA recording high [hai]
[h̬] African Voices recording ihhovisi [ih̬oˈvi:si] A voiced h.
[j] African Voices recording yebo [ˈjɛ:ɓo] Merriam-Webster recording yes [jes]
[l] African Voices recording leli [ˈle:li] Like the Standard German l.
[ɬ] African Voices recording isihlahla [isiˈɬa:ɬa]
[ɮ] African Voices recording ukudla [uˈɠu:ɮa]
[m] African Voices recording mama [ˈma:ma] IPA recording my [mai]
[n] African Voices recording nina [ˈni:na] IPA recording nigh [nai]
[ŋ] African Voices recording amanga [aˈma:ŋa] IPA recording hang [hæŋ]
[ɲ] African Voices recording inyosi [iˈɲo:si] Like the Spanish ñ.
[p] African Voices recording ipentshisi [ipenˈtʃi:si] IPA recording spy [spai]
[pʰ] African Voices recording isiphukuphuku [isipʰuɠuˈpʰu:ɠu] IPA recording pie [pʰai]
[ʁ] irekhodi Like the Standard German r.
[s] African Voices recording isisu [iˈsi:su] IPA recording sigh [sai]
[ʃ] African Voices recording ishiya [iˈʃi:ya] IPA recording shy [ʃai]
[t] African Voices recording isitambu [isiˈta:mbu] Merriam-Webster recording stack [stæk]
[tʰ] African Voices recording isithathu [isiˈtʰa:tʰu] IPA recording tie [tʰai]
[v] African Voices recording iva [ˈi:va] IPA recording vie [vai]
[w] African Voices recording wena [ˈwe:na] IPA recording why [wai]
[z] African Voices recording umzuzu [umˈzu:zu] Merriam-Webster recording zap [zæp]
[ǀ] African Voices recording ukucula [uɠuˈǀu:la]
[ǀʰ] African Voices recording ukuchaza [uɠuˈǀʰa:za]
[g͡ǀ] African Voices recording isigcobo [isiˈg͡ǀɔ:ɓo]
[n͡ǀ] African Voices recording incwancwa [iˈn͡ǀwa:n͡ǀwa]
[ŋ͡ǀ] African Voices recording ukungcwaba [uɠuˈŋ͡ǀwa:ɓa]
[ǃ] African Voices recording iqaqa [iˈǃa:ǃa]
[ǃʰ] African Voices recording iqhude [iˈǃʰu:de]
[g͡ǃ] African Voices recording ugqozi [uˈg͡ǃo:zi]
[n͡ǃ] African Voices recording inqola [iˈn͡ǃɔ:la]
[ŋ͡ǃ] African Voices recording ingqondo [iˈŋ͡ǃɔ:ndo]
[ǁ] African Voices recording xoxa [ˈǁɔ:ǁa]
[ǁʰ] African Voices recording ukuxhasa [uɠuˈǁʰa:sa]
[g͡ǁ] African Voices recording ukugxoba [uɠuˈg͡ǁɔ:ɓa]
[n͡ǁ] African Voices recording inxeba [iˈn͡ǁɛ:ɓa]
[ŋ͡ǁ] African Voices recording ingxenye [iˈŋ͡ǁɛ:ɲe]