Hmong Lessons

A couple of weeks ago, I made the comment to my hometeaching companion that I would enjoy learning some Hmong. In the community that we live there is a substantial Hmong population and since there are many members in our ward who only speak Hmong, I figured I should a least learn how to great them correctly.

Well today, without me having thought much on the conversation, Gilbert, my companion, came up and invited Emily and I to their class. It was very fun. The Hmong speaking Elders taught the class, and out of about 15 students and Emily was of course the best. She can already properly pronounce all of the vowels!

I figure a couple of you out there might be interested in learning to so I have included my class notes:

Hmong Vowels -

Character - Pronunciation

A - short "A" sound, like in Apple
E - Long "A" sound, like in Grape
I - Long "E" sound, like in Eagle
O - Short "O" sound, like in Off
U - Short "U" sound, like in Goofy
W - Egh (this is what I wrote. And yes it is a vowel in Hmong)
AI - Long "I" sound like in Isotope
EE - "Ang" (sounds like the "ung" in hung)
IA - Long "E" sound followed by a short "A" sound. Eeh ahh
OO - "Ong" (sounds like the "ong" in Song)
Au - Like the "Ow" sound in Cow.
Ua - ohh ahh
Aw - Oohegh

I hope this is a helpful reference for your personal Hmong study.