Fijian/Alphabet and pronunciation

Fijian language uses the same Latin alphabet as English. The official Fijian alphabet consists of the following 23 letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W and Y.

Notice that letters H, X and Z are lacking in the Fijian alphabet. Although letter H is officially lacking in the Fijian alphabet, it is used only in loanwords and foreign proper names and only in vary rare and occasional times.

Although letters F and P are included in the official Fijian alphabet, they are used mostly only in loanwords and foreign proper names, more often than letter H is.

Letters X and Z are not used in the Fijian language at all.

Occasionally, the official Fijian alphabet consists of the following 24 letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W and Y, with letter H being used the least.

Fijian pronunciation is not very difficult for the English speakers to learn. The Fijian vowels are pronounced as they are written. However, some consonants are pronounced differently from English:

  • B is pronounced "mb" as in 'bamboo'.
  • C is a lisped "th" as in 'feather'.
  • D is pronounced "nd" as in 'Andrew'.
  • J is pronounced "nj" as in 'conjunction'.
  • G is pronounced "ng" as in 'sing'.
  • Q is pronounced "ng" as in 'mango'.

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