Pronunciation guide

How to read and say Lithuanian

Letters, sounds and stress from Wikivoyage's Lithuanian phrasebook. Then hear the phrases and practice them, free.

Stress

Stress in Lithuanian is not fixed; the stress can fall almost anywhere on any word. If you are even seriously considering to study the language Intensively, the best way to learn the language is to do it word by word. Also, Lithuanians themselves stress differently, based on region. When speaking Lithuanian, you won't know which word to stress, but you will still be understood, even if you get it wrong.

Vowels

In the Lithuanian vowels, you shall find both long and short vowel sounds.

A a: (Short) Like “u” in “but”, (long) like “a” in “car”
Ą ą: Same as Lithuanian “a”, (short) like “u” in “but”, (long) like “a” in “car”
E e: (Short) Like “a” in “sat”, (long) like “a” in “amber”
Ę ę: Same as Lithuanian “e”, like “a” in “sat”
Ė ė: Like “e” in “bed”, but longer / more like “e” in German “mehr”
I i: Like “i” in “sit”
Į į: Like “ee” in “feet”
Y y: Same as Lithuanian “į”, like “ee” in “keep”
O o: Like “aw” in “paw”
U u: Like “u” in “put”
Ų ų: (Long only) Like “oo” in “pool”
Ū ū: Same as Lithuanian “ų”, (long only) like “oo” in “pool”

Consonants

B b: Like "b" in "bat".
C c: Like "ts" in "cats".
Č č: Like "ch" in "cheese".
D d: Like "d" in "dad".
F f: Like "f" in "food".
G g: Like "g" in "good".
H h: Like "h" in "hat".
J j: Like "y" in "you".
K k: Like "k" in "keep".
L l: Like "l" in "look".
M m: Like "m" in "mud".
N n: Like "n" in "no".
P p: Like "p" in "pat".
R r: Like "r" in "run" but trilled.
S s: Like "s" in "sat".
Š š: Like "sh" in "sheet".
T t: Like "t" in "top".
V v: Like "v" in "very".
Z z: Like "z" in "zebra".
Ž ž: Like "s" in "treasure".

Common digraphs

ai: (Short) Like "i" in "kite", (long) like "y" in "Kyle", or "ay" in "play"
aia: Like "ay" in "stay"
au: (Short) Like "ou" in "house", (long) like "ow" in "scowl".
ei: Like "i" in "lite" or "ay" in "play"
ia: Like 'ia' in "Lydia"
ie: Like "ia" in the Spanish word "fria"
io: Like "io" in "Ohio"
ių: Like "ew" in "few".
ui: Like "wee" in "week"
uo: Like "wa" in "water".
ch: Like "ck" in "brick".
dz: Like "ds" in "roads".
dž: Like "j" in "jump".
ny: like "ny" in "canyon".