List of Letters
The letters of the Basque alphabet are the 26 letters of the ISO basic Latin alphabet plus the ñ (and the ç, as a variant of the c).
This is the whole list, plus the IPA phonology:
Letter | Basque name | Pronounciation |
---|---|---|
A | a | /a/ |
B | be | /b/ |
C | ze* (and its variant Ç ze hautsia*) | /s/, /k/ |
D | de | /d/, /d̪/, /ð/ |
E | e | /e/ |
F | efe | /f/ |
G | ge | /g/, /ɣ/ |
H | hatxe | ∅, /h/ |
I | i | /i/, /i̭/ |
J | jota | /j/, /x/, /ʝ/, /ɟ/ |
K | ka | /k/ |
L | ele | /l/ |
M | eme | /m/ |
N | ene | /n/ |
Ñ | eñe | /ɲ/ |
O | o | /o/ |
P | pe | /p/ |
Q | ku* | /k/ |
R | erre | /r/, /ɾ/ |
S | ese | /s̺/ |
T | te | /t/, /t̪/ |
U | u | /u/, /u̯/ |
V | uve* | /b/, /β/ |
W | uve bikoitza* | /u̯/ |
X | ixa | /ʃ/ |
Y | i grekoa* | /i/, /i̭/ |
Z | zeta | /s̻/ |
* Although letters C, Ç, Q, V, W, and Y are not used in writing traditional |
All letters and digraphs represent unique phonemes. The main exception is when l or n are preceded by i, that in most dialects palatalizes their sound into /ʎ/ and /ɲ/, even if these are not written. Hence, Ikurriña can also be written Ikurrina without changing the sound, while the proper name Ainhoa requires the mute h to break the palatalization of the n.
H is mute in most regions, but in the Northeast is pronounced in many places, the main reason for its existence in the Basque alphabet. Its acceptance was a matter of contention during the standardization since the speakers of the most extended dialects had to learn where to place these h's, silent for them.
Read more about this topic: Basque Alphabet
Famous quotes containing the words list of, list and/or letters:
“Thirtythe promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinning list of single men to know, a thinning brief-case of enthusiasm, thinning hair.”
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (18961940)
“Hey, you dress up our town very nicely. You dont look out the Chamber of Commerce is going to list you in their publicity with the local attractions.”
—Robert M. Fresco, and Jack Arnold. Dr. Matt Hastings (John Agar)
“And graven with diamonds in letters plain
There is written her fair neck round about:
Noli me tangere for Caesars I am,
And wild for to hold though I seem tame.”
—Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503?1542)