Vowels

a

(similar to the "a" in about)

a	b%alé	wood
a	%akaawé	six
a	is%ahké	mother
a	s%áhpua	seven
a	t%awée	hot (to the touch)

aa

(like the "a" in father)

aa	%a%ashúua	head
aa	%á%ape	leaf
aa	%á%achiwile	milk
aa	b%a%até	bowl
aa	d%a%asé	heart
aa	heht%á%a	but ; except for ; on the other hand; however
aa	shik%á%ake (a)	boy
aa	t%á%aweete	sticking upright
aa	bilaxp%á%ake (a)	people

ea

(no equivalent in English)

ea	b%é%axe	intermittent
ea	d%é%axe	clear
ea	baatd%é%axe (i)	water glass

ee

(like the "e" in cafe)

ee	bal%é%ela	forest
ee	%e%elá	belly
ee	ann%e%él%e%e%ta	healthy
ee	íiwishd%e%ete	free, no cost

i

(like the "i" in bit)

i	%ilíik	to talk
i	%ítch%ik	good
i	%íkaak	to see
i	b%íle	water

ia

(like the "ia" in cafeteria)

ia	%í%axe	stomach; tripe; first stomach of an animal
ia	b%í%a	woman
ia	ch%í%a	white
ia	akbaal%í%a	doctor
ia	xáax%i%a	bright
ia	óow%i%ak	to show

ii

(like the "i" in machine)

ii	%i%ich%í%ile	horse
ii	bíl%i%iwaxpe	sunset
ii	d%í%ilik	to walk
ii	xaw%í%ia	bad
ii	sh%í%ile	yellow
ii	ch%í%ise	tail
ii	iishp%í%ia	mountain lion
ii	chiwak%í%ia	to pray
ii	ímm%i%ile	to circle, get around something
ii	awann%í%ile	to walk

o before h

("o" can appear as a shortened sound before an "hp", "hk", hch,

o(h)	h%óhpe	loose
o(h)	p%óhpumme	short, or stubby
o(h)	%óhkape	basin
o(h)	%óhchipe	dive, or go under water

oo

(like the "o" in soda)

oo	%ó%otchia	night
oo	ch%ó%ose	gray, or faded
oo	sh%o%opé	four
oo	ah%ó%oh	thank you
oo	shíil%o%oshe	orange
oo	awák%o%oxe	spider
oo	x%o%óxaashe	corn
oo	akbinnaw%ó%o	scientist, sage

u

(like the "u" in tuba, sometimes like the "oo in book)

u	%uhpáko	south; upstream region
u	alak%upé	the taste of something
u	h%uxshé	gloves
u	b%ul%uhpaaché	pear
u	k%uleék	to hold

ua

(no equivalent in English)

ua	b%ú%a	fish
ua	%u%áse	wounded
ua	dátch%u%akaate	muskrat
ua	sh%ú%a	blue
ua	Iil%ú%a	scar
ua	baaxaw%u%aóoshe	bread
ua	baaax%u%awishé	animal

uu

(like the "u" in tuba, sometimes like the "oo in book)

uu	%ú%uchik	to be dry
uu	al%ú%ute	arrow
uu	d%ú%upe	two
uu	aash%ú%ua	head
uu	d%u%ushík	to eat
uu	bach%u%ukáa	younger brother
uu	akiláak%u%ua	prophet
uu	iiwaanníalit%u%ua	carnival, or festival

word final e and ee

Similar to the "a" in was. Usually this is spelled "e", but also sometimes as "ee".

The pronounciation of final "ee" can change from citation to sentence form. For instance words like daxpitchée {bear} when cited as "word only" are occasionally pronounced closer to the sound of the "a" in cat, but when the word appears in a sentence always has the final shorter "e" sound.

e	hawát%e	one
e	dúupahp%e	eight
e	dakáak%e	bird
e	akaaw%é	six
ee	báash%e%e	boat
ee	daxpitch%é%e	bear
ee	bach%eé	man
ee	búatt%ee	coyote

word final o

("o" can appear as a shortened sound when it is word final)

o	chiaxx%ó	five
o	ah%ó	many
o	kussk%ó	previously
o	báak%o	above
o	dáakk%o	snapping turtle
o	annáahk%o	saddle

Fricatives

x

(no equivalent in English)

x	%xáape	flat
x	%xalaák	it is raining
x	%xa%xúa	all, or entire
x	iá%xassee	snake
x	baapáa%xee	flag
x	bilá%xe	drum
x	ii%xalaaílitduua	raincoat
x	%xíile	gray
x	a%xéeisaahkee	grandfather
x	iíttaashtee%xaape	jacket
x	%xoó%xaashe	corn
x	úu%xaashuua	deer antlers

xx

(no equivalent in English, compare the differences between geminate "xx" below and "x" above when they occur inbetween vowels)

xx	á%x%xaashe	sun
xx	chia%x%xó	five
xx	akdú%x%xiile	warrior
xx	iiwinna%x%xuuwé	paddle
xx	xalá%x%xe	skinny
xx	xá%x%xishiile	sorrel pinto

h

(like the "h" in hat)

h	%hinné	this
h	%hísshe	red
h	%hoowé	clean
h	ii%háaka	last one
h	ba%haawilé	spring water

s

(Between vowels "s" often has a "z" sound. No equivalent in English)

s	baai%sáate (a)	elder; adult
s	awaa%súua	house
s	chíi%se	tail
s	áhpaa%see	late afternoon
s(k)	chíi%s%kisshe	tailbone
s(k)	i%s%kulé	finger
s(p)	i%s%paxée	elbow
s(t)	bishkii%s%papásshe	bulldog
s(t)	dáa%s%taahele	truthful
s(t)	iiwilíalu%s%tuua	key
s(t)	i%s%téhpe	belly button

s after consonant

(Similar to the "s" in salt)

ks	ilúk%sapiia	ground meat
ks	ak%sée	parent
ps	íp%saataahili	plentiful
ps	Ap%sáalooke	Crow
ts	baawaalaát%satche	book

ss

(Similar to the "ss" in hissing)

ss	baáhku%s%saa	towards dawn
ss	di%s%súua	dance
ss	ía%s%see	watch
ss	i%s%sóhkape	hoe

sh

(pronounced as ship, between vowels sounds like the second "g" in garage)

sh	%s%hóope	four
sh	%s%hi%s%hía	dirty
sh	páa%s%hua	sticking out; protruding
sh	áa%s%he	river

ssh

(pronounced as sh but spelled ssh)

ssh	biláaki%s%s%he (i)	light; match
ssh	hí%s%s%he	red
ssh	kuala%s%s%híhpe	afternoon
ssh	bacheexu%s%s%hé	raccoon
ssh	du%s%s%húua	chest
ssh	shú%s%s%hua	wild peppermint

ss before consonant

(can be pronounced as "sh" or "s" there is variation between speakers)

ssb	ammaaku%s%sbáailaau	courtroom
ssch	baaku%s%schissáau	inheritance
ssd	ku%s%sdée	go to
ssk	awuú%s%skaatee	inflate
ssp	awá%s%spaachile	push down; oppress

sch

(pronounced closer to the combination of English "sh and ch" than "sch")

sch	awí%s%c%he	tree lichen
sch	da%s%c%hé	tie down, pound
sch	ía%s%c%hile	to buy
sch	i%s%c%hé	hand
sch	dú%s%c%he	take off, open

Stops

k (word initial)

(like "k" in kite)

k	%káale	old woman
k	%kuleék	to keep or hold
k	%kootá	like that

k (between vowels)

(similar to "gy" as in bigyard or "g" in girl)

k	í%kaak	to see
k	a%kaawé	six
k	da%káa%ke (a)	bird; chicken

geminate kk

(similar to "k-k" in tackle)

kk	bili%k%kúhpe	rainbow
kk	bi%k%kée	grass
kk	iiku%k%kúk	to hear, listen
kk	a%k%kummé	male singers, drummers
kk	chilaá%k%kussee	early morning

p (word initial)

(like "p" in pat)

p	%páaxxu	spill, or pour
p	%peelatché	raven
p	%pilaké	ten
p	%póopahte	owl
p	%puushé	striped, multicolored

p (between vowels)

(similar to "b" in but)

p	áa%pe	leaf
p	baatóhka%pe	bowl
p	bítchiiluu%pe	scissors
p	dúulee%pe	jaw
p	shoo%pé	four
p	a%páake	mosquito
p	a%púushe	area between nose and upper lip

geminate pp

(similar to "p-p" in apple)

pp	óowa%p%pe	square
pp	anna%p%píia	fringe
pp	baailúu%p%pe	rubber
pp	baaóo%p%piihche	offer smoke in prayer

t (word initial)

(like "t" in tap)

t	%taláashiile	butter
t	%tawée	hot (to the touch)
t	%tátche	straight, exact

t (between vowels)

(similar to "d" in side)

t	bíakaa%te	girl
t	ischala%taawé	finger
t	iilíilaa%tuua	walker
t	bili%tawée	hot water
t	alúu%te	arrow

geminate tt

(similar to "t-t" in tattle)

tt	búa%t%tee	coyote
tt	í%t%taache	good looking
tt	koo%t%talé	around that time
tt	úu%t%tachia	weasel

ch (word initial)

(like "ch" in chew)

ch	%c%heéte	wolf
ch	%c%hía	white
ch	%c%hóose	faded; grey, pale

ch (between vowels)

(similar "j" in jaw)

ch	ba%c%háxpiluua	game
ch	buluhpaa%c%hé (í)	pear
ch	i%c%hee%c%hé	heel
ch	ishóo%c%he	in front of

k, p, or t (preceded by h)

(similar to "k" in kite, "p" in pat, and "t" in tap)

The "h" is represented by a slight aspirated breath before the consonant

(h)k	ó%h%kape	war bonnet, basin
(h)k	a%h%kúxe	inner ear
(h)k	annáa%h%ko	saddle
(h)k	iáxu%h%ke	fox
(h)p	ikkú%h%pe	hat
(h)p	isté%h%pe	belly button
(h)p	dúupa%h%pe	eight
(h)p	dahkó%h%pe	hollow ground
(h)t	batshúasa%h%te	fork
(h)t	ku%h%tée	right there
(h)t	shóo%h%taa	where
(h)t	he%h%táa	but

ch (preceded by "h")

(no equivalent in English, pronounced as a slight aspiration (or slight fricative "sh") before the sound "ch" as in chew)

(h)ch	é%h%c%he	to know
(h)ch	baaé%h%c%he	intelligent
(h)ch	baachiché%h%c%he	reminisce
(h)ch	i%h%c%hipúa	to jump
(h)ch	dússhi%h%c%he	to touch
(h)ch	iisaxpúata%h%c%hee	bighorn sheep
(h)ch	iispá%h%c%hik	to kiss

Sonorants

m (mm)

"m" is never phrase or word initial and always appears as a "geminate" or double letter "mm" except when followed by "n"

mm	a%m%machúhke	plain, prarie
mm	a%m%mishé	birthday
mm	hée%m%mishe	further
mm	chi%m%mé	to count
mm	kukú%m%mile	watermelon
mm	iichíi%m%maalushissee	locoweed
mm	dú%m%miile	braid, or twist

n (nn)

"n" is never phrase or word initial and always appears as a "geminate" or double letter "nn" except when preceded by "m"

nn	a%n%naschiché	pillow
nn	alíia%n%nee	road or path
nn	a%n%neéleete	healthy, free from disease of sickness
nn	áaki%n%nee	ride (a horse), or straddle
nn	a%n%noopé	hole
nn	baalíi%n%neete	idle
nn	íi%n%nappaau	blood pudding
nn	áala%n%nuxche	forearm
nn	íi%n%nuschiaxissee	continuous bleeding, or hemorrhage

mn

mn	iia%m%naxxitúua	plow
mn	a%m%nía	cliff or bank
mn	há%m%neeta	none, zero
mn	ishta%m%née	tears
mn	a%m%noóshia	foothills
mn	íilaaleeiiwaachika%m%nuua	truck
mn	iiwaaíikshii%m%nustuua	wrench, or screwdriver

m, b, w

"m" can be thought of as an underlying phoneme that is realized in the sounds "b" and "w"

b (word initial)

(like the "b" in bat)

The sounds "b" and "w" are sometimes interchangeable, "b" typically is phrase or word initial and "w" is heard between vowels.
This varies among speakers and the speed of their speech. For example, hinne báape {today, or this day} is frequently heard as hinne wáape.

b	%baawaalaátsatche	book
b	%bálee	money
b	%basáxe	turtle
b	%báako	above
b	%bíawakshe	summer
b	%bishée	buffalo
b	%bíiwe	to swim
b	%bítchiiluupe	scissors
b	%bilé	water

w

(like the "w" in wag)

w	ishka%wuuá	inside (a building)
w	Baaxa%wuaashé	Crow Agency, MT
w	baa%waalaátsatche	book
w	íilaxpa%waakko	upper lip
w	áachi%wile	milk
w	baa%wíawakshishia	all summer long
w	dáa%week	to read
w	xa%wíia	bad

b (elsewhere)

"b" can be found within words when its phrase or word initial form has a prefix ending in "k", "s", "ss", or "t" added to it.

For example, ashí {house} + báakko {upstairs} = ashbáakko {upstairs of house}

b	ak%baachimmé	student
b	ak%baahilé	worker
b	dáak%bachee	son
b	is%baxxée	elbow
b	is%bía	sister or cousin
b	hawass%basée	to run around
b	apúuwat%bishe	ox
b	baawaalaát%baaxpee	bible
b	hut%bishé	windy

n, d, l

"n" can be thought of as an underlying phoneme that is realized in the sounds "d" and "l"

d (word initial)

(like the "d in dog)

This varies among speakers and the speed of their speech. For example, hinne dáake {this child} is frequently heard as hinne láake.

d	%daasé	heart
d	%dáawe	go ahead
d	%dáawiia	three
d	%dée	go
d	%diché	hit, or strike
d	%díile	walk
d	%dusshúua	chest
d	%dúupe	two
d	%duushík	to eat

l

(Similar to the "l in leg, with older speakers the "l" is sometimes more of a tap "r".)

"d" and "l" can be interchangeable, "d" typically is phrase or word initial and "l" is heard between vowels. This varies among speakers and the speed of their speech. For example, hinne dáake {this child} is frequently heard as hinne láake.

l	baa%laásdee	kind
l	daa%láawe	fly (as a bird)
l	ii%láawiia	third
l	bishée%laxpe	leather
l	íi%laa%lee	car
l	biláxii%liche	drumstick
l	ii%líilaatuua	walker
l	ii%lúupe	second
l	chiwáwuu%le	rat

d (elsewhere)

"d" can be found within words when its phrase or word initial form has a prefix ending in "k", "s", "ss", or "t" added to it.

For example, ak {someone who} + disshí {dance} = akdisshé {dancer}

d	ak%daaliché	airplane
d	ak%dúxxiile	warrior
d	ammuúss%dee	to descend
d	báakuss%deek	to go up (bird or airplane)
d	hawass%dáawe	to go around
d	kakásh%dee	re-establish a home
d	aash%dée	to go hunting
d	Akbaatat%día	God
d	baat%déaxe (i)	water glass
d	cheét%daake	wolf pup

Crow Pronunciation Guide

Vowels

a

aa

ea

ee

i

ia

ii

o before h

oo

u

ua

uu

word final e and ee

word final o

Fricatives

x

xx

h

s

s after consonant

ss

sh

ssh

ss before consonant

sch

Stops

k (word initial)

k (between vowels)

geminate kk

p (word initial)

p (between vowels)

geminate pp

t (word initial)

t (between vowels)

geminate tt

ch (word initial)

ch (between vowels)

k, p, or t (preceded by h)

ch (preceded by "h")

Sonorants

m (mm)

n (nn)

mn

m, b, w

b (word initial)

w

b (elsewhere)

n, d, l

d (word initial)

l

d (elsewhere)