How to read and say Basque

Basque pronunciation is quite similar to Spanish pronunciation.

The main differences are:

• x like sh in shop
• z like s in "see"
• s sort of like s in "see," but pronounced with the tongue further back, on the tip of the ridge behind your teeth

and the groups:

• in before a vowel, like Spanish ñ: baina (pronounced like baiña), or like ny in "canyon"
• il before a vowel, like li in "million" (an "ly" sound): mutila (pronounced like mutilya)

• tx like ch in "church"
• tz like ts in "pets"
• ts in between ts in "pets" and ch in "church"—pronounced with your tongue on the tip of the ridge behind your teeth

It's also possible to use tt and dd but these are not very common.