Unit Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Understand what a consonant (Ntawv Pib) is.
- Explain how consonants are used in Hmong words.
- Memorize all 17 one-letter Hmong consonants.
- Recognize the sound of each one-letter consonant.
- Produce the correct pronunciation of each one-letter consonant.
- Understand the relationship between one-, two-, three-, and four-letter consonants.
- Recognize the proper tongue and mouth position for each one-letter consonant.
Part 1 – Concepts for Consonants
What Is a Consonant? (Ntawv Pib)
A consonant (Ntawv Pib) is the beginning sound of a Hmong syllable.
Unlike a vowel, a consonant cannot form the main sound of a syllable by itself. Instead, it is added to the beginning of a vowel to create a new syllable.
For example:
- po (spleen)
- no (cold)
- so (to wipe)
- to (a cut)
Notice that the vowel stays the same while the consonant changes the beginning sound.
Review of the Three Building Blocks
Before learning consonants, let’s review the three building blocks of a Hmong syllable.
| Building Block | Hmong | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Vowel | Ntawv Suab | Creates the main sound of the syllable. Every Hmong syllable must contain one vowel. |
| Consonant | Ntawv Pib | Creates the beginning sound before the vowel. A syllable may or may not have a consonant. |
| Vowel Pitch Modifier | Ntawv Cim Suab | Changes the pitch (tone) of the vowel. A syllable may or may not have a vowel pitch modifier. |
The general structure of a Hmong syllable is:
Consonant + Vowel + Vowel Pitch Modifier
Examples:
| Word | Structure |
|---|---|
| o | V |
| po | CV |
| ob | VP |
| pob | CVP |
Remember from previous units that the vowel is always the main sound of the syllable. The consonant simply changes how the vowel begins.
Consonants Are Beginning Sounds
A consonant is not a complete sound by itself.
Its purpose is to change the beginning of the vowel sound.
Think of it this way:
- The vowel is the main sound.
- The consonant tells you how to begin saying that vowel.
For example, the vowel a always has the same vowel sound.
By adding different consonants, we create different syllables.
| Vowel | Add a Consonant | New Syllable |
|---|---|---|
| a | p | pa |
| a | m | ma |
| a | t | ta |
| a | k | ka |
| a | s | sa |
Notice that only the beginning sound changes.
Why Do Hmong Consonants Sound Like They Have a Vowel?
Technically, consonants do not contain a vowel sound. They are only beginning sounds. However, beginning sounds are difficult to pronounce loudly by themselves. Because of this, Hmong speakers traditionally pronounce every consonant together with the Hmong vowel “o” when saying the consonant by itself.
This pronunciation is only used to identify the consonant.
It does not mean that the vowel o is actually part of the consonant.
Imagine trying to say only the beginning sound of a word. For example, try saying only the beginning sound of the English word cat. You will notice that it is difficult to hold or pronounce loudly because it immediately wants to join with a vowel. The same thing happens in Hmong. Since consonants are only beginning sounds, they are traditionally pronounced with the Hmong vowel “o” so they can be spoken clearly.
The consonant c is really only the beginning sound. Phonetically, the consonant is simply the sound produced at the beginning of a syllable. However, because it is difficult to pronounce by itself, we traditionally pronounce it as co. This same idea applies to every Hmong consonant.
Remember: The “o” is only added to help us pronounce the consonant by itself. It is not part of the consonant.
Length of Hmong Consonants
Just as vowels may contain one or two letters, Hmong consonants may also contain different numbers of letters.
Hmong consonants can contain:
- 1 letter
- 2 letters
- 3 letters
- 4 letters
These longer consonants are not completely new sounds. In most cases, they are built by combining one-letter consonants together in predictable ways.
They will be introduced in later units.
One-Letter Consonants
These are the foundation of all Hmong consonants.
c d f h k l m n p q r s t v x y z
Two-Letter Consonants
(To be learned in a later unit.)
Three-Letter Consonants
(To be learned in a later unit.)
Four-Letter Consonants
(To be learned in a later unit.)
Consonants Never Use Vowel Letters
One of the most helpful features of written Hmong is that consonants and vowels never share the same letters.
The Hmong vowels are:
a, e, i, o, u, w, aa, ai, au, aw, ee, ia, oo, ua
Notice that none of these letters appear in the list of one-letter consonants. Because of this, you can always determine where a consonant ends and where a vowel begins. This makes reading Hmong much easier than many other languages because the boundary between consonants and vowels is always clear.
Part 2 – How to Pronounce the Consonants
Now that you understand what a consonant is, the next step is to learn how to pronounce each one.
Remember, a consonant is only the beginning sound of a syllable. Because it is only a beginning sound, it is difficult to pronounce by itself.
To solve this problem, Hmong speakers traditionally add the Hmong vowel “o” when saying a consonant by itself.
This makes the consonant easier to hear, pronounce, and remember.
Consonants Do Not Have Names
Unlike the English alphabet, Hmong consonants do not have separate names.
For example:
In English:
- A = “ay”
- B = “bee”
- C = “see”
Each letter has its own name. In Hmong, consonants are different. A Hmong consonant has no separate name.
Its “name” is simply its pronunciation.
However, because beginning sounds are difficult to pronounce alone, the vowel “o” is traditionally added whenever the consonant is spoken by itself.
Again, remember: The “o” is not part of the consonant. It is simply a pronunciation aid.
Traditional Pronunciation of the One-Letter Consonants
Practice saying each consonant aloud.
| Consonant | Traditional Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| c | co |
| d | do |
| f | fo |
| h | ho |
| k | ko |
| l | lo |
| m | mo |
| n | no |
| p | po |
| q | qo |
| r | ro |
| s | so |
| t | to |
| v | vo |
| x | xo |
| y | yo |
| z | zo |
Practice saying the entire list several times until each pronunciation becomes familiar.
Important Reminder
When reading Hmong words, do not think of the consonant as “co,” “do,” or “po.”
Instead, remember that the “o” is only used when naming the consonant.
When reading an actual Hmong word, the consonant immediately joins with the vowel that follows it.
For example:
| Consonant | Vowel | Result |
|---|---|---|
| p | a | pa |
| p | e | pe |
| p | i | pi |
| p | o | po |
| p | u | pu |
| p | w | pw |
Part 3 – The One-Letter Consonants
Now that you understand what consonants are and why they are traditionally pronounced with the vowel “o,” it is time to learn the one-letter consonants. These are the foundation of the Hmong consonant system.
Every multi-letter consonant you will learn in later units is built using these same one-letter consonants.
The 17 One-Letter Consonants
The Hmong Romanized Popular Alphabet (RPA) contains 17 one-letter consonants.
| Consonant | Traditional Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| c | co |
| d | do |
| f | fo |
| h | ho |
| k | ko |
| l | lo |
| m | mo |
| n | no |
| p | po |
| q | qo |
| r | ro |
| s | so |
| t | to |
| v | vo |
| x | xo |
| y | yo |
| z | zo |
Memorize the One-Letter Consonants
It is important to memorize all 17 one-letter consonants before moving on to the longer consonants.
Practice saying them aloud several times.
c, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, y, z
Then practice saying their traditional pronunciations.
co, do, fo, ho, ko, lo, mo, no, po, qo, ro, so, to, vo, xo, yo, zo
Recognizing One-Letter Consonants
Whenever you see one of these letters in a Hmong word, remember that it is functioning as the beginning sound of the syllable.
Every Multi-Letter Consonant Begins Here
The one-letter consonants are the building blocks for every other Hmong consonant.
As you continue through this course, you will learn:
- Two-letter consonants
- Three-letter consonants
- Four-letter consonants
These longer consonants are not made from new letters. Instead, they are created by combining the same 17 one-letter consonants you learned in this lesson.
For example:
| One-Letter Consonants | Combined Consonant |
|---|---|
| k + h | kh |
| n + k | nk |
| t + s | ts |
| n + t + x | ntx |
By mastering the one-letter consonants first, you will find it much easier to learn the longer consonants in later units.
Key Concepts to Remember
Before moving on, remember these important ideas:
- Hmong has 17 one-letter consonants.
- These are the foundation of the entire Hmong consonant system.
- Every two-, three-, and four-letter consonant is built using these same letters.
- The “o” in the traditional pronunciation is only used to help pronounce the consonant by itself.
- The “o” is not actually part of the consonant.
- Memorizing these 17 consonants will make learning the longer consonants much easier.
Part 4 – Tips for Learning Hmong Consonants
The following tips will help you understand how Hmong consonants work and avoid some of the most common pronunciation mistakes. Although some of these tips apply to the multi-letter consonants that you will learn in later units, understanding these patterns now will make those future lessons much easier.
Tip 1 – An Easy Way to Memorize the One-Letter Consonants
One of the easiest ways to memorize the Hmong one-letter consonants is to begin with the English alphabet. First, write the English alphabet.
Next, cross out the six Hmong vowels:
A, E, I, O, U, W
Then cross out:
B, G, J
Use the memory phrase:
Broken Garage Junk
Everything remaining is a one-letter Hmong consonant.
This leaves:
C, D, F, H, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, X, Y, Z
This is an easy trick for remembering all 17 one-letter consonants.
Tip 2 – Multi-Letter Consonants Reuse These Same Letters
There are no additional consonant letters beyond these 17 one-letter consonants.
Every two-letter, three-letter, and four-letter consonant is simply a combination of these same letters.
For example:
- k + h = kh
- n + k = nk
- t + s = ts
- n + t + x = ntx
Learning the one-letter consonants well will make every later consonant much easier to learn.
Tip 3 – The Letter N Creates a Nasal Sound
This tip applies to the multi-letter consonants you will learn in later units. When the letter n appears before another consonant, it adds a nasal sound before the original consonant.
For example:
nk
The n produces a brief nasal sound before the k.
As you pronounce nk, you should feel some air flowing through your nose before releasing the k sound. The same principle applies to many other consonants that begin with n.
Tip 4 – The Letter H Adds Aspiration
This tip also applies primarily to the multi-letter consonants. When the letter h follows another consonant, it adds an aspirated breath, or a puff of air, after the original consonant.
For example:
k
No puff of air.
kh
Same k sound, but followed by a noticeable puff of air. The h does not replace the original consonant. Instead, it modifies the original consonant by adding aspiration.
Tip 5 – One-Letter Consonants Should Not Have Nasalization or Aspiration
When pronouncing the one-letter consonants, remember:
- Do not begin with a nasal sound.
- Do not add a puff of air.
If you hear a nasal sound before the consonant, you are likely adding an n. If you hear a puff of air after the consonant, you are likely adding an h.
Those pronunciation features belong to the multi-letter consonants, not the one-letter consonants.
Tip 6 – D vs. R
These two consonants use nearly the same tongue position and are commonly confused.
D
Place the tip of your tongue firmly against the anterior hard palate (palatal rugae) just behind the upper front teeth, near the gingival tissue. Hold the tongue firmly against this area until the sound is released.
R
Place the tongue in nearly the same location. However, instead of pressing firmly against the palate, leave a very small gap between the tongue and the palate. This small opening allows a little more air to pass through, creating the Hmong r sound.
The difference between d and r is mainly the amount of tongue contact and airflow.
Tip 7 – K Is Not the English K
Do not pronounce the Hmong k like the English k in words such as kite or key. The English k is normally pronounced with a puff of air.
That pronunciation is actually much closer to the Hmong consonant kh.
Remember:
k
No aspiration.
kh
Same consonant with aspiration.
Tip 8 – S, X, and Z
These three consonants are commonly confused.
S
Pronounced similarly to the English sh sound.
X
Pronounced similarly to the English s sound as in saw.
Z
Pronounced similarly to the “Zh” sound heard in names like Zhang-Chi or General Zhang from Mulan.
Tip 9 – Y
The Hmong y is pronounced like the English y in:
- yak
- yes
- yellow
Tip 10 – C
The Hmong c has no exact English equivalent. A close approximation is the beginning sound of the Hmong name Cai.
Although this is not a perfect match, it provides a helpful starting point for learning the sound.
Tip 11 – Q
The Hmong q is produced far back in the mouth. Raise the back of your tongue toward your uvula at the back of your throat while producing the sound. For many men, you may notice that your Adam’s apple moves slightly downward. The sound may feel somewhat like clearing a dense loogie from the back of your throat. Be careful not to add a puff of air. If you hear a puff of air, you are pronouncing qh, not q.
Tip 12 – Patterns in Multi-Letter Consonants
As you study the two-letter, three-letter, and four-letter consonants, you will begin to notice repeating pronunciation patterns.
For example:
k
becomes
kh
by adding aspiration.
Likewise,
k
becomes
nk
by adding nasalization.
Many of the longer consonants follow these same predictable patterns. Once you understand the one-letter consonants, learning the multi-letter consonants becomes much easier.
Key Concepts to Remember
Before moving on, remember these important ideas:
- Start by mastering the 17 one-letter consonants.
- Every longer consonant is built from these same letters.
- The letter n usually adds nasalization when it appears before another consonant.
- The letter h usually adds aspiration when it follows another consonant.
- One-letter consonants should be pronounced without nasalization and without aspiration.
- Pay close attention to the differences between d and r, k and kh, and s, x, and z.
- Recognizing these pronunciation patterns now will make the later consonant units much easier to learn.
Part 5 – Tongue Position for Each One-Letter Consonant
Correct tongue and mouth position are essential for producing accurate Hmong consonant sounds.
As you practice each consonant, pay attention to where your tongue is placed, how your lips are positioned, and whether air is flowing through your mouth or nose.
Remember that all one-letter consonants should be pronounced without a nasal sound and without an aspirated puff of air. Those pronunciation features belong to the multi-letter consonants and will be taught in later units.
Tongue Position Guide
| Consonant | Tongue / Mouth Position |
|---|---|
| c | Place the tip of your tongue against the anterior hard palate (palatal rugae) just behind the upper front teeth. Hold the tongue firmly against this area before releasing to produce the unique Hmong c sound. There is no exact English equivalent, but a close approximation is the beginning sound of the Hmong name Cai. |
| d | Place the tip of your tongue firmly against the anterior hard palate (palatal rugae) just behind the upper front teeth near the gingival tissue. Hold firm contact until the sound is released. |
| f | Lightly place your lower lip against your upper front teeth and allow air to pass through the narrow opening. |
| h | Keep your mouth open and allow air to pass freely through your throat with very little tongue movement. |
| k | Raise the back of your tongue until it contacts the soft palate (velum). Release the sound without adding a puff of air. |
| l | Place the tip of your tongue just behind the upper front teeth while allowing air to flow around both sides of the tongue. |
| m | Close your lips completely while allowing sound and air to resonate through your nose. |
| n | Place the tip of your tongue just behind the upper front teeth while allowing sound and air to pass through your nose. |
| p | Close your lips completely, then release them without adding a puff of air. |
| q | Raise the back of your tongue toward the uvula at the back of your throat. Release the sound without aspiration. |
| r | Position the tongue nearly the same as d, but leave a very small gap between the tongue and the anterior hard palate. This allows a small amount of air to pass through while producing the sound. |
| s | Raise the front of your tongue close to the roof of your mouth, leaving a narrow opening to create a sound similar to the English sh. |
| t | Place the tip of your tongue against the anterior hard palate just behind the upper front teeth. Release the sound cleanly without aspiration. |
| v | Lightly place your lower lip against your upper front teeth while vibrating your vocal cords. |
| x | Position your tongue to produce a sound similar to the English s in saw. The tongue remains close to the roof of the mouth without touching it. |
| y | Raise the middle of your tongue toward the hard palate, similar to the English y in yak or yes. |
| z | Position your tongue to produce the Hmong z sound, similar to the “Zh” sound heard in Zhang-Chi or General Zhang from Mulan. |
Practice Tips
The best way to practice is to listen to the actual pronunciation. Click here to access the Quizlet flashcard with audio included.