Diphthongs

Diphthongs are combinations of an East Cree vowel with a glide such as W or Y. In the orthography, the glide can come before or after the vowel.

On this page, we discuss what the vowel combinations sound like. However, this description starts off with the roman spelling system; that is, we describe how each particular spelling is pronounced. (In contrast, on the other vowel pages, the main focus was on the pronunciation, not on the spelling.)

East Cree diphthongs sometimes sound just the way they are spelled. However, there are some notable exceptions like IWI, UWI, WAA, and WAAU. To find out more about the pronunciation of each vowel combination, refer to the following list.

AI, AU, AY, IU, IW, IWI, IY, UI, UYIU, UW, UWI, UY, WAA, WAAU, WI, YI, YIU, YU

AI

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AAI sounds almost like the [ aj ] in hi. Notice that the letter I spelling stands for a [ j ] sound in this case.

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᒎᓛᐃᐲᓯᒻ		chuulaaipiisim	chuu – laai – pii – sim
ᐅᑖᐃᑯᒻᐦ		utaaikumh	u – taai – kumh

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᒌᔥᑳᐃᐙᐤ		chiishkaaiwaau	chiish – kaai – wau
ᐲᓵᐃᐦᑯᓈᐤ		piisaaihkunaau	pii – saaih – ku – naau

AU and AAU

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AU and AAU sound almost like the [ aw ] in how. Notice that the letter U spelling stands for a [ w ] sound in this case.

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᒋᔅᐱᑳᐤ		chispikaau	chispi – kaau
ᐃᔮᔫᐦᐊᐤ		iyaayuuhau	iyaa – yuu – hau

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᑯᑖᐤ		akutaau	a – ku – taau
ᓀᐅᒌᔑᑳᐤ		neuchiishikaau	neu – chii – shi – kaau

AY

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AAY sounds just like AAI [ aj ]. In contrast, AYI (at the beginning of the word) sounds like [ ɪjɪ ].

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐹᔨᒄ		paayikw	paayikw
ᐃᔮᔫᐦᐊᐤ		iyaayuuhau	i – yaa – yuu – hau
ᒋᓵᔮᔅᑯᓂᐱᓯᒻ		chisaayaaskunipisim *	chisaa – yaa – skuni – pi – sim
ᐊᔨᒥᐙᑭᓐ		ayimiwaakin **	ayimi – waa – kin

* Here, AAYAA sounds closer to [ ɛːjɛː ] as in the English phrase ‘a yes’.
**AYI sounds like [ ɪjɪ ] at the beginning of the word. Short A normally sounds like [ ɪ ] at the beginning of the word, and YI normally sounds like [ jɪ ] or [ ji ].

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐃᔮᔨᐐᐤ		iyaayiwiiu	i – yaayi – wiiu
ᓂᔮᔨᓐ		niyaayin	ni – yaayin
ᑕᐦᑳᔮᐤ		tahkaayaau	tah – kaa – yaau

IU

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In general, IU sounds like a long [ uː ] or [ u̞ː ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐋᐦᑯᓯᐤ		aahkusiu	aahku – siu
ᒋᐦᒋᐐᐅᓈᓂᐤ		chihchiwiiunaaniu	chihchi – wiiu – naa -niu
ᑳᐦᑳᒋᐤ		kaahkaachiu	kaah – kaa – chiu
ᐃᔨᑭᔅᒋᓰᐤ		iyikischisiiu *	i – yikis – chisiiu

* In this example, IIU sounds like a short U.

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐲᐦᒋᐸᔨᐅᔮᓐ		piihchipayiuyaan	piih – chi – pa – yiu – yaan

However, in the next examples, IY-IU sounds like [ i - ju ]. (Also see IY and YI. )

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᒋᐦᒋᐱᔨᐤ		chihchipiyiu	chihchi – pi – yiu
ᐱᒥᐱᔨᐅᑭᒥᒄ		pimipiyiukimikw	pimi – pi – yiu – kimikw

Southern			Syllables	IPA
		NO EXAMPLE

In the middle of the word, IIU sounds like [ i ] followed by [ u ], or like [ i ] followed by [ ju ]. It can be difficult to hear the [ j ] sound.

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᓂᐲᐅᐦᓂᒻ		nipiiuhnim	ni – piiuh – nim
ᒋᐦᒋᐐᐅᓈᓂᐤ		chihchiwiiunaaniu	chihchi – wiiu – naa – niu

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐋᐦᑯᓰᐅᑲᒥᒄ		aahkusiiukamikw	aahku – siiu – ka-mikw
ᓈᒌᐅᔥᑕᒻ		naachiiushtam	naa – chiiush – tam

In the next example, U-YI-U sounds like [ u - i - juː ] (Also see IY and YI. )

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᔥᑐᔨᐅᑭᒥᒄ		ashtuyiukimikw	ash – tu – yiu – kimikw

Southern			Syllables	IPA
		NO EXAMPLE

IW

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In general, IW sounds like [ ɪw ], [ ɨw ], or [ əw ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᔨᒥᐙᑭᓐ		ayimiwaakin	ayimi – waa – kin
ᒫᑎᐙᐎᓐᐦ		maatiwaawinh	maa – ti – waa – winh

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐳᐃᐌᔥ		puiwesh	pui – wesh
ᐃᐙᐳᐌᐤ		iwaapuweu	i – waapu – weu

IIW sounds like [ iːw ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᒌᐙᑎᓐ		chiiwaatin	chii – waa – tin
ᒥᐦᒌᐙᓯᐤ		mihchiiwaasiu	mih – chii – waa – siu
ᐅᔥᑎᒀᓂᐲᐐᐦ		ushtikwaanipiiwiih *	ush – ti – kwaani – pii – wiih

* Note that IIWII sounds different from IIWI, as explained in the next example.

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᒌᐌᑎᓐ		chiiwetin	chii – we – tin
ᔒᐌᔫ		shiiweyuu	shii – we – yuu

However, IIWI sounds like [ iu ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐲᐎᓐ		piiwin *	pii – win

* Also see IWI.

Southern			Syllables	IPA
		NO EXAMPLE

IWI

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In general, IWI sounds like [ uː ] or [ uʷən ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᓃᔓᑳᐱᐎᓈᓂᐤ		niishukaapiwinaaniu	niishu – kaa – piwi – naa – niu
ᑖᐦᑎᐱᐎᓐ		taahtipiwin	taah – ti – piwin

Southern			Syllables	IPA
		NO EXAMPLE

IY

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In general, IY and IIY sound like [ ij ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐃᔮᔑᐦᑦ		iyaashiht	i – yaashiht
ᐄᔮᐦᑎᒄ		iiyaahtikw	ii – yaah – tikw
ᐃᔮᔫᐦᐊᐤ		iyaayuuhau	i – yaa – yuu – hau
ᐱᔮᐤ		piyaau	pi – yaau

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐄᔮᐦᑎᒄ		iiyaahtikw	ii – yaah – tikw
ᐄᔨᒥᓐᐦ		iiyiminh	ii – yi – minh
ᐊᑯᔨᔦᐤ		akuyiyeu	a – kuyi – yeu

However, unaccented IY can sound about as short as a [ j ] sound:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᓂᔮᔪᔖᑉ		niyaayushaap *	niyaayu – shaap

* NIY sounds closer to [ nj ].

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᓂᔮᓈᓀᐤ		niyaanaaneu	niyaa – naa – neu

UI

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UI sounds like [ ʊj ], (similar to how some English speakers say the vowel sound in buoy):

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᓂᔅᑳᐳᐃ		niskaapui	nis – kaa – pui
ᐳᐃᐙᔑᔥ		puiwaashish	pui – waashish
ᑯᐃᐦᑯᐦᐋᒑᐤ		kuihkuhaachaau *	kuih – kuhaa – chaau
ᐊᒥᔅᒀᔪᐃ		amiskwaayui **	amis – kwaa – yui

* Here, UIH sounds more like [ ui ].) (Also see the description of IH.
** Here, UI sounds closer to the [ ɔj ] sound in English ‘boy’.

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᑯᐃᔅᒄ		kuiskw	kuiskw
ᐅᔥᑴᑐᐃ		ushkwetui	ush – kwe – tui

UY

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UUY sounds like [ uːj ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᔔᔮᓂᑭᒥᒄ		shuuyaanikimikw	shuu – yaani – kimikw

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᒥᑰᔫ		mikuuyuu	mi – kuu – yuu
ᐸᒎᔮᓐ		pachuuyaan	pa – chuu – yaan

UY sounds like UI [ ʊj ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐙᐳᔮᓐ		waapuyaan	waa – pu – yaan
ᑳᐃᔮᐦᑯᔨᐦᑑᑯᑖᐦᒡᐦ ᓂᐹᐎᓐᐦ		kaaiyaahkuyihtuukutaahchh nipaawinh	kaai – yaah – kuyih – tuu – ku – taahchh ni – paa – winh

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᑯᔦᑲᐦᐄᑲᓐ		akuyekahiikan	a – ku – yeka – hii – kan

UYIU

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UYIU can sound like [ iu ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐅᑯᔨᐤ		ukuyiu	u – ku – yiu

Southern			Syllables	IPA
		NO EXAMPLE

Otherwise, it sounds like UY followed by IU [ ʊiju ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᔥᑐᔨᐅᑭᒥᒄ		ashtuyiukimikw	ash – tu – yiu – kimikw

Southern			Syllables	IPA
		NO EXAMPLE

UW

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UW sounds like a long [ uː ], a short [ u ], or even like a super-short [ w ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐆᐎᑳᐤ		uuwikaau	uuwi – kaau
ᒫᒨᐙᑭᐦᐄᑭᓐ		maamuuwaakihiikin *	maamuu – waaki – hii – kin

* Here, UUW sounds more like [ uw ] or even just [ w ].

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐋᐦᑐᐌᓀᐤ		ashtuweneu	ashtu – we – neu
ᐆᐎᑦ		uuwit	uuwit

UWI

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UWI sounds like long [ uː ] or [ uwɨ ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᒋᒧᐎᓐ		chimuwin	chi – muwin
ᑭᔥᑯᐎᓐ		kishkuwin	kish – kuwin
ᔖᑯᐦᐄᑭᓄᐎᑦ		shaakuhiikinuwit	shaaku – hii – ki – nuwit
ᐋᐱᐦᑐᐎᓐ		aapihtuwin	aa – pih – tuwin

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐙᐱᒥᓱᐎᓐ		waapimisuwin	waapi – mi – suwin
ᐊᔨᒧᐎᓐ		ayimuwin	a – yim – uwin
ᒥᔅᐳᐎᓐ		mispuwin	mis – puwin

WAA

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After a consonant, WAA sounds like [ ɔ ] or [ ɒ ], and sometimes you can also hear a slight W right before the vowel sound.

• The sounds [ ɔ ] and [ ɒ ] are similar to the O in a New Yorker’s pronunciation of coffee, or similar to the Received (Queen’s English) Pronunciation of words like raw and law. To make this sound, make an ‘aaaaah’ sound and simultaneously round your lips (as you would do in order to say an ‘oooh’ sound.)

Examples include:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᒥᔅᒀᐹᐙᐤ		amiskwaapaawaau	amis – kwaa – paa – waau
ᐊᒥᔅᒀᔪᐃ		amiskwaayui	amis – kwaa – yui
ᐊᑆᓂᔥ		apwaanish	a – pwaa – nish
ᒸᒄ		mwaakw	mwaakw
ᓃᔂᓱᒻᑎᓂᐤ		niiswaasumtiniu	nii – swaa – sum – ti – niu
ᒋᔣᑖᓐ		chishwaataan	chishwaa – taan
ᑳᒋᓍᒡ		kaachinwaach	kaa – chi – nwaach
ᑯᑣᔥᒡ		kutwaashch	ku – twaashch

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᐦᑎᒀᐴ		ahtikwaapuu	ah – tik – waa – puu
ᒸᒄ		mwaakw	mwaakw
ᓴᑲᑆᓐ		sakapwaan	sa – kaa – pwaan

In contrast, after a vowel, WAA sounds like [ waː ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᐙᓐ ᐋ ᑎᐱᔥᑭᐦᒃ		awaan aa tipishkihk	a – waan aa tipish – kihk
ᒌᐙᑎᓐ		chiiwaatin	chii – waa – tin
ᒋᔥᑖᐹᐐᐙᑭᓐ		chishtaapaawiiwaakin	chishtaa-paa-wii-waa-kin
ᒫᑎᐙᐎᓐᐦ		maatiwaawinh	maa – ti – waa – winh

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᑲᓇᐙᐴ		kanawaapuu	ka – na – waa – puu
ᒦᒋᐙᐦᑉ		miichiwaahp	mii – chi – waahp
ᐅᔅᒋᓈᐯᐙᓐ		uschinaapewaan	us – chi – naa – pe – waan

WAAU

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After a consonant (including Y), WAAU sounds like WAA followed by a W sound [ wɔːw ]. Note that the letter U stands for a [ w ] sound in the WAAU combination.

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᒥᐦᒀᐤ		mihkwaau	mih – kwaau
ᓂᔥᑣᐅᒥᑖᐦᑐᒥᑎᓂᐤ		nishtwaaumitaahtumitiniu	nish – twaaumi – taah – tumi – ti – niu
ᐹᔂᐤ		paaswaau	paa – swaau
ᓂᔮᔻᐅᒥᑖᐦᑐᒥᑎᓂᐤ		niyaaywaaumitaahtumitiniu	niyaa – ywaaumi – taah – tumi – ti – niu

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐹᐦᒀᐤ		paahkwaau	paah – kwaau
ᐲᐦᑣᐅᐴ		piihtwaaupuu	piih – twaau – puu
ᐅᐱᔻᐅᒥᓐᐦ		upiywaauminh	u – piy – waau – minh

In contrast, after a vowel, WAAU sounds similar to English wow or woah [ wɔːw ]. Note that the letter U stands for a [ w ] sound in the WAAU combination.

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᒥᔅᒀᐹᐙᐤ		amiskwaapaawaau	amis – kwaa – paa – waau
ᒥᒫᓃᐙᐤ		mimaaniiwaau	mi – maa – nii – waau
ᓂᑐᐦᑎᐙᐤ		nituhtiwaau	ni – tuh – ti – waau

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐅᓵᐙᐤ		usaawaau	u – saa – waau
ᒌᔥᑳᐃᐙ		chiishkaaiwaau	chiish – kaai – waau
ᒥᔥᑯᐙᐤ		mishkuwaau	mishku – waau

WI

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WII sounds like [ wiː ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐐᐐᑎᒫ		wiiwiitimaa	wii – wiiti – maa

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᐌᓐ ᐌᔨᐐᑦ		awen weyiwiit	a – wen weyi – wiit
ᑳᐐᐸᓯᑦ		kaa wiipasit	kaa wiipasit

WI sounds like [ wɪ ] or [ wə ] at the beginning of the word:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐎᒋᐦᐄᐙᐤ		wichihiiwaau	wichi – hii – waau
ᐎᒋᔥᒄ		wichishkw	wichishkw

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᓵᒋᐦᐄᐌᐎᓐ		saachihiiwewin	saa – chihii – we – win
ᐎᔥᐱᒥᐦᑖᑲᐦᒡ		wishpimihtaakahch	wish – pimih – taakahch

Otherwise, WI has various pronunciations:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᒫᑎᐙᐎᓐᐦ		maatiwaawinh [ wɪ ]	maa – ti – waa – winh
ᐲᐎᓐ		piiwin *	pii – win
ᐆᐎᑳᐤ		uuwikaau **	uuwi – kaau

* IIWI sounds like [ iu ]; also see IWI.
** WI sounds like a very short [ w ] sound. Also see UW.

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᒋᒨᐎ		chimuuwin	chi – muuwin

YI

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In general YI sounds like [ i ] or [ ji ]. (The [ j ] sound can be hard to hear.)

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐹᔨᒄ		paayikw	paayikw
ᐋᔮᔨᐦᑎᑳᒡ		aayaayihtikaach	aa – yaayih – ti – kaach

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᔨᒨ		ayimuu	a – yi – muu
ᒥᑐᐦᑯᔨᓐ		nituhkuyin	ni – tuhku – yin
ᐄᔨᒥᓐᐦ		iiyiminh	ii – yi – minh

YIY can sound like a long [ jj ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐅᑖᔨᔩ		utaayiyii	u – taa – yiyii

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᑯᔨᔦᐤ		akuyiyeu	aku – yi – yeu
ᓂᑑᐸᔨᔫ		nituupayiyuu	ni – tuu – payi – yuu

YIU

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YIU sounds like [ juː ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᔥᑐᔨᐅᑭᒥᒄ		ashtuyiukimikw *	ash – tu – yiu – kimikw
ᒋᐦᒋᐱᔨᐤ		chihchipiyiu **	chihchi – pi – yiu

* See UYIU.
** See IY and IU.

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐲᐦᒋᐸᔨᐅᔮᓐ		piihchipayiuyaan	piih – chi – pa – yiu – yaan

YU

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YUU and YU both sound like [ juː ] or [ ju ]:

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐃᔮᔫᐦᐊᐤ		iyaayuuhau	i – yaa – yuu – hau
ᓰᐹᒋᐱᔫᑯᐦᑉ		siipaachipiyuukuhp	sii – paa – chi – pi – yuu – kuhp
ᔫᑎᓐ		yuutin	yuu – tin
ᒥᔪᔑᒥᐤ		miyushimiu	mi – yu – shi – miu
ᓂᔮᔪᔖᑉ		niyaayushaap	niyaayu – shaap

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᔫᒥᓂᒡ		ayuuminich	a – yuu – minich
ᔪᔅᑲᐤ		yuskau	yus – kau
ᒥᔪᑲᒨ		miyuskamuu	miyus – ka – muu

However, when YU is at the end of the word, the U is silent. (Also see silent vowels.)

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᓂᔮᔪ		niyaayu	ni – yaayu

Southern			Syllables	IPA
		NO EXAMPLE

Finally, YUI sounds like Y followed by UI [ jʊi ]

Northern			Syllables	IPA
ᐊᒥᔅᒀᔪᐃ		amiskwaayui	amis – kwaa – yui

Southern			Syllables	IPA
ᐃᔨᔪᐄᐦᑑ		iyiyuiihtuu	iyiyu – iih – tuu

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