The Lithuanian Alphabet: A Guide to Pronunciation

It's Latin-based (mostly!)

Good news: Lithuanian uses the Latin alphabet, just like English. You won't need to learn a whole new script like Cyrillic or Greek. However, we have a few extra friends that bring specific sounds.

The "Nosinės" (ą, ę, į, ų)

These letters have a little "tail" or hook at the bottom called a nosinė. Originally, these indicated a nasal sound, but in modern standard Lithuanian, they simply make the vowel long.

• ą sounds like the a in "father" (long).
• ę sounds like the a in "cat" (but longer).
• į sounds like the ee in "sheep".
• ų sounds like the oo in "moon".

The "Dotless" e (ė)

The letter ė is unique. It makes a very specific sound, like the ai in "air" (without the 'r' sound), or a closed "e". It is distinct from e (short, like "met") and ę (long/open).

Consonants with hats (č, š, ž)

These are straightforward if you know English:

• č = ch as in "cherry".
• š = sh as in "shoe".
• ž = s as in "pleasure" (or zh).

Quick Practice

Try saying these words:

• Ačiū (Ah-choo) - Thank you.
• Šalta (Shal-ta) - Cold.
• Žuvis (Zhoo-vis) - Fish.

FAQ

Q: How do I roll my R? A: Lithuanian 'R' is rolled at the tip of the tongue, similar to Spanish or Italian. Practice saying "butter" very quickly!