Esperanto Spelling and Pronunciation

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28 Letter Alphabet 

a   b   c   ĉ   d    e   f 

g    ĝ    h   ĥ   i    j    ĵ

k   l   m   n   o   p   r

s    ŝ   t   u    ŭ   v    z ​

- Each letter has just one sound
- No silent letters
- Accent always on next to last syllable
- No letters Q, W, X, Y
- 6 new letters -- ĉ, ĝ, ĥ, ĵ, ŝ, ŭ

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Pronunciation

In pronouncing the alphabet letters -- add "oh" sound to consonants -- i.e. "bo, tso, cho, do" -- etc.

5 Vowels

A  as in Father
E  as in Best
I  as in Machine
O  as in Or
U  as OO in Too

23 Consonants, except..

C  as ts in Bits
Ĉ  as ch in Church 
G  as g in Go
Ĝ  as g in George
Ĥ  as ch in Loch (rare)

J  as y in yes
Ĵ  as s in Pleasure
S  as s in See
Ŝ  as s in Shall
Ŭ  as w in Wet

Plus 6 diphthongs

pronounced as simple vowels followed by a glide toward an "i" or "u" position.
AŬ  as ow in Power
EŬ  as in eh -oo
AJ  as in Line
EJ  as in They 
OJ  as in Boy 
UJ  as in Hallelujah

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5 pure vowels as in Italian or Spanish. Give each its full sound. Do not move lips while sounding vowel to avoid diphthong effect.

Because Esperanto sounds differ from English in pitch and intonation, it is important to learn correct international pronunciation from the start.