Step 1
Alphabet & Pronunciation
ChiTonga is written the way it is spoken. Learn these sounds and you can read any Tonga word.
The letters
Tap to hear5 vowels
Always the same sound
a
“ah”as in “father”e.g. Mwana
e
“eh”as in “bed”e.g. Meenda
i
“ee”as in “see”e.g. Izuba
o
“oh”as in “more”e.g. Mpongo
u
“oo”as in “food”e.g. Muntu
Special sounds
Unique to ChiTonga
c
like “ch” in churche.g. Cikolo
sy
like “sh” in shoee.g. Syumbwa
zy
like “s” in measuree.g. Kuzyiba
ng'
like “ng” in singe.g. Ng'ombe
ny
like “ny” in canyone.g. Nyama
bb / kk
a stronger, held sounde.g. Kkumi
mb / nd / nz
soft “m/n” before the lettere.g. Nzovu
aa / ee / ii
double vowel = longer sounde.g. Taata
Pronunciation tip
Every letter is pronounced – there are no silent letters. Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable: mu-LO-nga, twa-LU-mba.