< Wu Chinese
Wu sounds
Syllables
The number of syllables in the Wu language are much less than English. The syllables are also easily described with the concepts of initials and finals. A syllable begins with a single consonant. This is called the initial. The rest of the syllable is called the final. A final can have a single vowel or a diphthong (two vowels that glide from one to the other).
The pronunication guide below is based on American English except where otherwise noted. Not all sounds can be described with English words and some are just approximations at best. Be sure to listen to actual speakers to ensure that your pronunciation is correct.
Initials
| Ghou'nyu Phin'in | Pronunciation |
| t | t in "stop" |
| th | t as in "top" |
| d | d as in "dog" |
| n | n as in "no" |
| l | l in "let" |
| p | p as in "spa" |
| ph | p as in "pop" |
| b | b as in "bad" |
| f | f in "fat" |
| v | v as in "very" |
| m | m as in "mom" |
| ts | No equivalent in English. s as in "beds", but a lot lighter and clearer. |
| tsh | ts as in "cats" |
| dz | ds as in "beds" |
| s | s as in "sun" |
| z | z as in "zero" |
| c | No equivalent in English. j as in "BeiJing" in Mandarin. |
| ch | ch as in "chocolate" |
| j | j as in "jack" |
| sh | sh as in "shack" |
| zh | s as in "usual" |
| ny | ni as in "onion" |
| k | ch as in "school" |
| kh | c as in "cat" |
| g | g as in "good" |
| h | h as in "good" |
| gh | No equivalent in English or Mandarin. It's a more pronounced "h". |
| ng | ng as in "singer", as if the "ng" sound is carried onto the "er" instead of being cut off before the "er". |
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