|
Vowels
|
---|
IPA |
Examples |
English approximation
|
---|
Monophthongs
|
---|
ɑ
|
dak |
dog (but more open), pa (but shorter)
| aː
|
baan |
pa
| ɛ
|
bed |
bed
| eː
|
beet |
bait
| ɛː
|
crème |
yeah, or RP English bare
| ɪ
|
zit |
sit
| i
|
ziet |
seat (but shorter)
| iː
|
zier |
seat
| ɔ
|
post |
boss
| oː
|
boot |
boat
| ɔː
|
zone |
law
| øː
|
leuk |
somewhat like hurl; French deux
| u
|
poets |
you but shorter, took but more closed/tense
| uː
|
boer |
you
| ʏ
|
nut |
much like the below but shorter
| y
|
nu |
French rue
| yː
|
zuur |
French rue, but longer
| Diphthongs
|
---|
ɛi̯
|
wijd, eis |
between tie and day (the latter more as in Australia)
| ɑu̯
|
hout, blauw |
how
| œy̯
|
huid |
Similar to French fauteuil, no exact equivalent in English. Approximated as tie with rounded lips, or how with fronted lips.
| Reduced vowels
|
---|
ə
|
halte |
comma, label, chatter
|
|