Susu Alphabet

Q: Does Susu really have 41 separate basic letters?

No , forty-one is IRLA’s total of written teaching units. It includes twenty-one vowel forms and twenty consonant spellings. [1] There are seven basic vowel letters. Fourteen additional vowel combinations represent length or nasalisation, while three of the consonant entries are digraphs. [1]

Q: Which Susu spelling convention is used here?

The chart follows IRLA’s Soso guide , pages 14–16. Its written forms include ɛ, ɔ and ɲ. [1] This orthography differs from older learning materials that use special font symbols. Keep one source convention consistent instead of mixing the symbols into a new alphabet. [1] [3]

Q: Where is Susu spoken, and is Soso another language?

Soso and Soussou are alternative names for Susu. CNRS describes its use in Guinea and neighbouring countries. [2] It belongs to the Mande language family . The requested homepage group keeps this regional family context; the chart itself teaches Susu. [2]

Q: How do ɛ, ɔ and ɲ sound?

Ɛ is approximately like e in bed, and ɔ resembles aw in saw. Ɲ is a joined ny sound, as in canyon. [1] These are separate written forms in the source. Keep their shapes distinct from e, o and n when reading or copying.

Q: What happens when a vowel is doubled?

A doubled spelling marks a long vowel . The guide includes aa, ee, ɛɛ, ii, oo, ɔɔ and uu. [1] Hold the sound longer without changing its basic quality. The source’s baare, taro, provides an example with aa. [1]

Q: How do gb, ng and nd work?

The guide groups gb, ng and nd as consonant digraphs. Gb coordinates closures at the lips and back of the tongue. [1] Ng and nd are prenasalised sequences. Begin with nasal airflow, then move into the following consonant as a closely joined sound. [4]

Q: Why are tone marks absent from the main chart?

Susu is tonal , so pitch differences can distinguish words. The CNRS sheet explains that ordinary spelling does not normally mark every tone . [4] A diacritic can record extra pronunciation information in research. An acute accent can show high tone and a grave accent low tone in those materials. [4]

Q: Are the number labels native letter names?

No , they are number words from the Peace Corps course. For example, keren means one and firin means two. [3] The English hints are approximate reading aids , not native letter names. Zero is explicitly English because a native zero word was not verified.

Susu Alphabet at a Glance

41 written units: 21 vowel forms and 20 consonant spellings follow IRLA’s Soso teaching chart. ^[1]
The vowel set comprises seven basic, seven long and seven nasal forms. ^[1]
Susu, also called Soso or Soussou, is spoken in Guinea and neighbouring countries. ^[2]
Susu belongs to the Mande language family. ^[2]
Seventeen single-letter consonants and the three digraphs gb, ng and nd make up the consonant chart. ^[1]
The number labels follow the Guinea Peace Corps handbook, with English explicitly used for unverified zero. ^[3]
Pitch can distinguish words, although ordinary spelling usually leaves tone unmarked. ^[4]

Susu vowels (uppercase):

[ah]

[eh]

[open eh]

[ee]

[oh]

[aw]

[oo]

[ah]

Open the mouth for a sound approximately like a in father. Example: xamɛ (man). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[eh]

Use a steady e sound, approximately like e in bed. Example: bere (amusement). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[open eh]

Like e in bed, with a more open mouth than for e. Example: xɛma (gold). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ee]

Like ee in see. Example: firi (vine). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oh]

Use a steady o sound, without the final glide in English go. Example: kote (baggage). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[aw]

Approximately like aw in saw, keeping it distinct from o. Example: bɔrɛ (sauce). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oo]

Like oo in food. Example: luti (rope). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Susu vowels (lowercase):

[ah]

[eh]

[open eh]

[ee]

[oh]

[aw]

[oo]

[ah]

Open the mouth for a sound approximately like a in father. Example: xamɛ (man). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[eh]

Use a steady e sound, approximately like e in bed. Example: bere (amusement). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[open eh]

Like e in bed, with a more open mouth than for e. Example: xɛma (gold). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ee]

Like ee in see. Example: firi (vine). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oh]

Use a steady o sound, without the final glide in English go. Example: kote (baggage). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[aw]

Approximately like aw in saw, keeping it distinct from o. Example: bɔrɛ (sauce). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oo]

Like oo in food. Example: luti (rope). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Susu consonants (uppercase):

[b]

[d]

[f]

[hard g]

[h]

[k]

[l]

[m]

[n]

[ny]

[p]

[rolled r]

[s]

[t]

[w]

[kh]

[y]

[joined gb]

[ng-g]

[n-d]

[b]

Like b in boat. Example: bare (dog). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[d]

Like d in dog. Example: dɛ (mouth). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[f]

Like f in fish. Example: fale (bridge). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[hard g]

Like the hard g in go. Example: gaxui (fear). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[h]

Like h in hat. Example: hakɛ (sin). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[k]

Like k in skin. Example: keri (hoe). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[l]

Like l in leaf. Example: luxui (cloud). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[m]

Like m in moon. Example: male (rice). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[n]

Like n in net. Example: neri (néré tree). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ny]

Like ny in canyon, joined into one sound. Example: ɲoge (rubbish). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[p]

Like p in spin. Example: pini (pin). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[rolled r]

Tap or roll the tongue tip near the ridge behind the upper teeth. Example: ragi (make run). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[s]

Like s in sun. Example: sɔɔri (soldier). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[t]

Like t in stop. Example: tela (tailor). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[w]

Like w in we. Example: wuri (wood). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[kh]

Narrow the passage at the back of the mouth to make a rough, breathy sound. There is no exact standard English equivalent. Example: xabi (yam). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[y]

Like y in yes. Example: yere (rabbit). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[joined gb]

Close the lips and back of the tongue together, then release them as one voiced sound. Example: gbeli (red). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ng-g]

Begin with the nasal ng sound and release into g as one joined sequence. Example: ngɛ (spring of water). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[n-d]

Begin with n and release into d, keeping the sequence closely joined. Example: nde (who or which). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Susu consonants (lowercase):

[b]

[d]

[f]

[hard g]

[h]

[k]

[l]

[m]

[n]

[ny]

[p]

[rolled r]

[s]

[t]

[w]

[kh]

[y]

[joined gb]

[ng-g]

[n-d]

[b]

Like b in boat. Example: bare (dog). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[d]

Like d in dog. Example: dɛ (mouth). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[f]

Like f in fish. Example: fale (bridge). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[hard g]

Like the hard g in go. Example: gaxui (fear). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[h]

Like h in hat. Example: hakɛ (sin). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[k]

Like k in skin. Example: keri (hoe). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[l]

Like l in leaf. Example: luxui (cloud). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[m]

Like m in moon. Example: male (rice). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[n]

Like n in net. Example: neri (néré tree). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ny]

Like ny in canyon, joined into one sound. Example: ɲoge (rubbish). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[p]

Like p in spin. Example: pini (pin). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[rolled r]

Tap or roll the tongue tip near the ridge behind the upper teeth. Example: ragi (make run). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[s]

Like s in sun. Example: sɔɔri (soldier). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[t]

Like t in stop. Example: tela (tailor). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[w]

Like w in we. Example: wuri (wood). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[kh]

Narrow the passage at the back of the mouth to make a rough, breathy sound. There is no exact standard English equivalent. Example: xabi (yam). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[y]

Like y in yes. Example: yere (rabbit). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[joined gb]

Close the lips and back of the tongue together, then release them as one voiced sound. Example: gbeli (red). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ng-g]

Begin with the nasal ng sound and release into g as one joined sequence. Example: ngɛ (spring of water). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[n-d]

Begin with n and release into d, keeping the sequence closely joined. Example: nde (who or which). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Susu vowel combinations (uppercase):

[ah held longer]

[eh held longer]

ƐƐ

[open eh held longer]

[ee held longer]

[oh held longer]

ƆƆ

[aw held longer]

[oo held longer]

[nasal ah]

[nasal eh]

ƐN

[nasal open eh]

[nasal ee]

[nasal oh]

ƆN

[nasal aw]

[nasal oo]

[ah held longer]

Open the mouth for a sound approximately like a in father. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: baare (taro). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[eh held longer]

Use a steady e sound, approximately like e in bed. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: deeli (false seed). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ƐƐ

[open eh held longer]

Like e in bed, with a more open mouth than for e. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: kɛɛ (inheritance). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ee held longer]

Like ee in see. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: tiide (function). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oh held longer]

Use a steady o sound, without the final glide in English go. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: boote (drum). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ƆƆ

[aw held longer]

Approximately like aw in saw, keeping it distinct from o. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: sɔɔri (soldier). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oo held longer]

Like oo in food. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: fuuti (sponge). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[nasal ah]

Open the mouth for a sound approximately like a in father. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: banxi (house). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[nasal eh]

Use a steady e sound, approximately like e in bed. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: tenge (sorghum). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ƐN

[nasal open eh]

Like e in bed, with a more open mouth than for e. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: bɛndɛ (earth). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[nasal ee]

Like ee in see. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: kinsi (mangrove). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[nasal oh]

Use a steady o sound, without the final glide in English go. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: tondi (refuse). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ƆN

[nasal aw]

Approximately like aw in saw, keeping it distinct from o. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: kɔntɔfili (embarrassment). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[nasal oo]

Like oo in food. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: xunɲi (head). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Susu vowel combinations (lowercase):

[ah held longer]

[eh held longer]

ɛɛ

[open eh held longer]

[ee held longer]

[oh held longer]

ɔɔ

[aw held longer]

[oo held longer]

[nasal ah]

[nasal eh]

ɛn

[nasal open eh]

[nasal ee]

[nasal oh]

ɔn

[nasal aw]

[nasal oo]

[ah held longer]

Open the mouth for a sound approximately like a in father. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: baare (taro). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[eh held longer]

Use a steady e sound, approximately like e in bed. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: deeli (false seed). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ɛɛ

[open eh held longer]

Like e in bed, with a more open mouth than for e. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: kɛɛ (inheritance). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ee held longer]

Like ee in see. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: tiide (function). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oh held longer]

Use a steady o sound, without the final glide in English go. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: boote (drum). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ɔɔ

[aw held longer]

Approximately like aw in saw, keeping it distinct from o. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: sɔɔri (soldier). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oo held longer]

Like oo in food. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: fuuti (sponge). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[nasal ah]

[nasal eh]

ɛn

[nasal open eh]

[nasal ee]

Like ee in see. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: kinsi (mangrove). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[nasal oh]

ɔn

[nasal aw]

[nasal oo]

Like oo in food. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: xunɲi (head). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Susu special letters and combinations:

[open eh]

[aw]

[ny]

[joined gb]

[ng-g]

[n-d]

[open eh]

Like e in bed, with a more open mouth than for e. Example: xɛma (gold). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[aw]

Approximately like aw in saw, keeping it distinct from o. Example: bɔrɛ (sauce). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ny]

Like ny in canyon, joined into one sound. Example: ɲoge (rubbish). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[joined gb]

Close the lips and back of the tongue together, then release them as one voiced sound. Example: gbeli (red). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ng-g]

Begin with the nasal ng sound and release into g as one joined sequence. Example: ngɛ (spring of water). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[n-d]

Begin with n and release into d, keeping the sequence closely joined. Example: nde (who or which). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Susu digits and number words:

[zero]

[keh-ren]

[fee-rin]

[sah-khan]

[naa-nee]

[soo-lee]

[seh-nnee]

[soh-loh-feh-reh]

[soh-loh-mah-sah-khan]

[soh-loh-mah-naa-nee]

[zero]

The English word zero is a fallback; no native form was verified.

[keh-ren]

The Susu number word keren means one. The reading aid is an approximate English comparison.

[fee-rin]

The Susu number word firin means two. The reading aid is an approximate English comparison.

[sah-khan]

The Susu number word saxan means three. The reading aid is an approximate English comparison.

[naa-nee]

The Susu number word naani means four. The reading aid is an approximate English comparison.

[soo-lee]

The Susu number word suli means five. The reading aid is an approximate English comparison.

[seh-nnee]

The Susu number word sɛnni means six. The reading aid is an approximate English comparison.

[soh-loh-feh-reh]

The Susu number word solofere means seven. The reading aid is an approximate English comparison.

[soh-loh-mah-sah-khan]

The Susu number word solomasaxan means eight. The reading aid is an approximate English comparison.

[soh-loh-mah-naa-nee]

The Susu number word solomanaani means nine. The reading aid is an approximate English comparison.

Complete Susu alphabet:

[ah]

[eh]

Ɛɛ

[open eh]

[ee]

[oh]

Ɔɔ

[aw]

[oo]

AAaa

[ah held longer]

EEee

[eh held longer]

ƐƐɛɛ

[open eh held longer]

IIii

[ee held longer]

OOoo

[oh held longer]

ƆƆɔɔ

[aw held longer]

UUuu

[oo held longer]

ANan

[nasal ah]

ENen

[nasal eh]

ƐNɛn

[nasal open eh]

INin

[nasal ee]

ONon

[nasal oh]

ƆNɔn

[nasal aw]

UNun

[nasal oo]

[b]

[d]

[f]

[hard g]

[h]

[k]

[l]

[m]

[n]

Ɲɲ

[ny]

[p]

[rolled r]

[s]

[t]

[w]

[kh]

[y]

GBgb

[joined gb]

NGng

[ng-g]

NDnd

[n-d]

[ah]

Open the mouth for a sound approximately like a in father. Example: xamɛ (man). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[eh]

Use a steady e sound, approximately like e in bed. Example: bere (amusement). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Ɛɛ

[open eh]

Like e in bed, with a more open mouth than for e. Example: xɛma (gold). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[ee]

Like ee in see. Example: firi (vine). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oh]

Use a steady o sound, without the final glide in English go. Example: kote (baggage). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Ɔɔ

[aw]

Approximately like aw in saw, keeping it distinct from o. Example: bɔrɛ (sauce). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[oo]

Like oo in food. Example: luti (rope). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

AAaa

[ah held longer]

Open the mouth for a sound approximately like a in father. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: baare (taro). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

EEee

[eh held longer]

Use a steady e sound, approximately like e in bed. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: deeli (false seed). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ƐƐɛɛ

[open eh held longer]

Like e in bed, with a more open mouth than for e. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: kɛɛ (inheritance). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

IIii

[ee held longer]

Like ee in see. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: tiide (function). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

OOoo

[oh held longer]

Use a steady o sound, without the final glide in English go. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: boote (drum). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ƆƆɔɔ

[aw held longer]

Approximately like aw in saw, keeping it distinct from o. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: sɔɔri (soldier). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

UUuu

[oo held longer]

Like oo in food. Hold this vowel longer than its single-letter counterpart. Example: fuuti (sponge). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ANan

[nasal ah]

ENen

[nasal eh]

ƐNɛn

[nasal open eh]

INin

[nasal ee]

Like ee in see. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: kinsi (mangrove). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

ONon

[nasal oh]

ƆNɔn

[nasal aw]

UNun

[nasal oo]

Like oo in food. Let air also pass through the nose. The following n marks nasalisation in this vowel form. Example: xunɲi (head). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[b]

Like b in boat. Example: bare (dog). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[d]

Like d in dog. Example: dɛ (mouth). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[f]

Like f in fish. Example: fale (bridge). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[hard g]

Like the hard g in go. Example: gaxui (fear). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[h]

Like h in hat. Example: hakɛ (sin). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[k]

Like k in skin. Example: keri (hoe). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[l]

Like l in leaf. Example: luxui (cloud). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[m]

Like m in moon. Example: male (rice). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[n]

Like n in net. Example: neri (néré tree). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Ɲɲ

[ny]

Like ny in canyon, joined into one sound. Example: ɲoge (rubbish). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[p]

Like p in spin. Example: pini (pin). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[rolled r]

Tap or roll the tongue tip near the ridge behind the upper teeth. Example: ragi (make run). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[s]

Like s in sun. Example: sɔɔri (soldier). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[t]

Like t in stop. Example: tela (tailor). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[w]

Like w in we. Example: wuri (wood). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[kh]

Narrow the passage at the back of the mouth to make a rough, breathy sound. There is no exact standard English equivalent. Example: xabi (yam). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

[y]

Like y in yes. Example: yere (rabbit). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

GBgb

[joined gb]

Close the lips and back of the tongue together, then release them as one voiced sound. Example: gbeli (red). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

NGng

[ng-g]

Begin with the nasal ng sound and release into g as one joined sequence. Example: ngɛ (spring of water). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

NDnd

[n-d]

Begin with n and release into d, keeping the sequence closely joined. Example: nde (who or which). Approximate sound guide, not a native letter name.

Expand All Collapse All

Does Susu really have 41 separate basic letters?

Which Susu spelling convention is used here?

Where is Susu spoken, and is Soso another language?

How do ɛ, ɔ and ɲ sound?

What happens when a vowel is doubled?

How do gb, ng and nd work?

Why are tone marks absent from the main chart?

Are the number labels native letter names?

References:

[1] Institut de Recherche Linguistique Appliquée. Le nouvel alphabet des langues guinéennes, second edition. Soso chart and examples, pp. 14–16; scan shared by Charles Riley. Retrieved from IRLA Soso alphabet guide.
[2] CNRS, Langues et Grammaires du Monde. Soso. Geographic distribution and Mande language classification. Retrieved from CNRS Soso profile.
[3] Fory Bah, United States Peace Corps. Sosoxui: Livre du stagiaire. Guinean teaching manual; number forms on p. 30. Original font symbols are normalised in this chart. Retrieved from Peace Corps Sosoxui handbook.
[4] CNRS, Langues et Grammaires du Monde. Soso language sheet. Basic vowel qualities, nasalisation, vowel length and tone conventions. Retrieved from Soso phonology sheet.