“If Europe were to start again, I would begin with culture.”
Jean Monnet, EU pioneer
Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of European alphabets? Get ready to discover a world where some letters wear hats, others fancy little crutches or strike-throughs, and some even have their own unique accents. In the wacky world of European alphabets, some characters have more personality than your ex’s Instagram account! From the fancy-pants French “ç” to the quirky Norwegian “Ø”, these letters are like the divas of the alphabet. And don’t even get me started on the Icelandic “Д – that letter is so unique, it’s like the unicorn of the alphabet world. So buckle up and get ready to explore the unique letters that make up each country‘s alphabet – from the curly-wurly letters of Greece to the straight-talking letters of Germany
Portugal
Ã
Did you know that the letter ã is a crucial part of Portuguese language and culture? Without it, we wouldn’t have iconic words like não (meaning “no” in English) or João (one of the most common male names in Portugal). In fact, ã appears in so many Portuguese words that it’s practically a national treasure. It’s like the fado music, or the delicious pastel de nata – quintessentially Portuguese! And if you’re wondering why the letter ã is so important, just try pronouncing explicação without it. You’ll sound like you’re speaking a whole different language!
á – The acute accent on the letter “a” (á) indicates stress on the second to last syllable of a word, such as in “fácil” (easy).
â – The circumflex accent on the letter “a” (â) is used to indicate a pronunciation difference, and can change the meaning of a word, such as “para” (for) and “pára” (stop).
à – The grave accent on the letter “a” (à) is used to indicate a stressed syllable in the last position of a word, such as in “avô” (grandfather).
ç – The cedilla on the letter “c” (ç) is used to indicate a “soft c” pronunciation, as in “açúcar” (sugar).
é – The acute accent on the letter “e” (é) indicates stress on the second to last syllable of a word, such as in “pé” (foot).
ê – The circumflex accent on the letter “e” (ê) is used to indicate a pronunciation difference and can change the meaning of a word, such as “tem” (has) and “têm” (they have).
í – The acute accent on the letter “i” (í) indicates stress on the second to last syllable of a word, such as in “líder” (leader).
ó – The acute accent on the letter “o” (ó) indicates stress on the second to last syllable of a word, such as in “órgão” (organ).
ô – The circumflex accent on the letter “o” (ô) is used to indicate a pronunciation difference and can change the meaning of a word, such as “pôr” (to put) and “por” (for).
õ – The tilde on the letter “o” (õ) indicates nasalization and is found in many Portuguese words, such as “bom” (good) and “cão” (dog).
ú – The acute accent on the letter “u” (ú) indicates stress on the second to last syllable of a word, such as in “saúde” (health).
Spain
Ñ
Ah, the ñ, the pride and joy of the Spanish language! This unique letter originated in medieval Spain as a way to distinguish between the sounds of “n” and “nn”. But it’s more than just a historical relic; it’s the secret ingredient that makes Spanish so deliciously distinctive. Without the ñ, you couldn’t enjoy classic dishes like coño, or piñata! And let’s not forget about our beloved señoras and señores, who would be mere “senoras” and “senores” without the ñ. So embrace the ñ, amigos, and let it roll off your tongue like a purring gato. Olé!
ll – “ll” was considered for long the fourteenth letter of the Spanish alphabet. In April 1994, the X Congress of the Association of Spanish Language Academies adopted standard Latin alphabet collation rules. Since then, the digraph “ll” has been considered a sequence of two characters.
France – Belgium – Luxembourg – Switzerland
Ç
The letter ç, or cedilla in French, may seem like an oddball, but it’s actually an important player in the French alphabet. With its origin in Old French, the ç was used to soften the hard “c” sound in words like “français” and “garçon”. It’s a subtle but crucial detail that adds to the elegance and charm of the French language. So, embrace the ç, mes amis, and let it be your secret weapon in mastering the art of French language and culture. And if anyone tells you it’s a useless letter, just remember that without the ç, we’d all be left with bland “francais” and “garcon”.
É – A letter with an acute accent that represents the “ay” sound, as in “café”.
È – A letter with a grave accent that represents the “eh” sound, as in “père”.
Ê – A letter with a circumflex accent that represents the “eh” sound, as in “bête”.
Ë – A letter with a diaeresis that represents the “eh” sound, as in “Noël”.
Î – A letter with a circumflex accent that represents the “ee” sound, as in “île”.
Ï – A letter with a diaeresis that represents the “ee” sound, as in “maïs”.
Ô – A letter with a circumflex accent that represents the “oh” sound, as in “côte”.
Œ – A ligature representing the combination of the letters “o” and “e” and typically pronounced as “uh”, as in “œuf”.
Ù – A letter with a grave accent that represents the “oo” sound, as in “crû”
Iceland
Ð
Did you know that Iceland has a letter that’s not found in any other modern alphabet? It’s called “eth” (ð) and is pronounced like the “th” in “that”. It’s a crucial part of Icelandic language and culture, and without it, we wouldn’t have poetic words like “Glaður” (happy) or “Maður” (man). And if you’re wondering about the uppercase version “Д, it looks like a “D” with a line through it – kind of like a rockstar version of the lowercase. But don’t let its cool appearance fool you – words do never start with ð in Icelandic. Making its uppercase use very rare…
þ – The letter “þ” is called “thorn” and represents the voiceless dental fricative sound, as in the word “thin.”
ö – The letter “ö” is called “o with diaeresis” and represents the close-mid front rounded vowel sound, as in the word “bird.”
ó – The letter “ó” is called “o with acute accent” and represents the close-mid back rounded vowel sound, as in the word “cone.”
ý – The letter “ý” is called “y with acute accent” and represents the close front rounded vowel sound, as in the word “cute.”
æ – The letter “æ” is called “ash” and represents the near-open front unrounded vowel sound, as in the word “cat.”
á – The letter “á” is called “a with acute accent” and represents the open front unrounded vowel sound, as in the word “father.”
ú – The letter “ú” is called “u with acute accent” and represents the close back rounded vowel sound, as in the word “boot.”
Ireland
Í
Did you know that the Irish alphabet has some fancy accents? Take the letter ‘í’, for example – it’s like the regular ‘i’, but with a lightning bolt on top! Even the word for ‘letter’ in Irish, ‘lítir‘, needs a little accent of its own – it’s like the Irish language just can’t get enough of those fancy hats! It’s used in words like císte (“cake“), físeán (video), ríocht (“kingdom”) and síob (“ghost”). But don’t worry if you can’t find them in the dictionary – accented letters are just variations of their unaccented counterparts, so they don’t count for alphabetisation.
á – The letter “á” is pronounced like the “aw” sound in English and is used in words like “clár” (board).
é – The letter “é” is pronounced like the “ay” sound in English and is used in words like “céad” (hundred) and “léim” (jump).
ó – The letter “ó” is pronounced like the “oh” sound in English and is used in words like “bó” (cow) and “glór” (voice).
ú – The letter “ú” is pronounced like the “oo” sound in English and is used in words like “búclaí” (buckles) and “tús” (beginning).
United Kingdom
Ì
It’s like the Irish ‘í’, but turned on its head! In Scotland, you pronounce the letter ‘ì’ like the ‘ih’ sound in ‘bit’, and it’s used in words like ‘craicinn‘ (skin) and ‘cìobair‘ (shepherd). It’s just one of the many similarities between Scottish and Irish Gaelic, two rich and vibrant cultures with a shared history and love of storytelling. So next time you’re in Scotland, don’t forget to ask for a ‘wee dram’ of whisky and practice your ‘cèilidh’ dancing skills – it’s a great way to appreciate the unique charm and character of this fascinating country.
à – The letter “à” in Scottish Gaelic is pronounced like the “ah” sound in English and is used in words like “àite” (place) and “fàilte” (welcome).
è – The letter “è” in Scottish Gaelic is pronounced like the “eh” sound in English and is used in words like “cèilidh” (traditional social gathering) and “pèist” (worm).
ò – The letter “ò” in Scottish Gaelic is pronounced like the “oh” sound in English and is used in words like “mòr” (big) and “ròin” (seal).
ù – The letter “ù” in Scottish Gaelic is pronounced like the “oo” sound in English and is used in words like “cù” (dog) and “tùr” (tower).
Norway
Ø
You probably already heard of the elusive letter ‘ø’ in Norwegian! It’s like a hybrid of ‘o’ and ‘e’, making it sound like something you might hear while trying to sneeze and hiccup at the same time! But don’t let its funny name and pronunciation fool you – the letter ‘ø’ is an integral part of the Norwegian language, used in words like ‘fjøs‘ (barn), ‘kø‘ (queue), and ‘tøffelhelt‘ (slipper hero). And speaking of ‘tøffelhelt‘, did you know that in Norway, it’s considered a great honor to wear slippers to social gatherings? That’s right, forget about fancy shoes or high heels – if you want to make a good impression in Norway, slip on those tøfler and get ready to party like a true Norwegian!
å – The letter “å” is pronounced like the “oh” sound in English and is used in words like “båt” (boat) and “hånd” (hand).
æ – The letter “æ” is pronounced like the “ae” sound in “aerial” and is used in words like “fælt” (awful) and “fjær” (feather).
é – The letter “é” is pronounced like the “ay” sound in “day” and is used in loanwords like “kafé” (cafe) and “idé” (idea).
Sweden
Å
The Swedish alphabet has a unique letter that stands out from the rest – it’s called ‘å’ (pronounced ‘oh’) and features a little circle on top known as a ‘ring’. It’s like a little halo for the letter! This special character is used in words like ‘fågel‘ (bird), ‘gås‘ (goose), and ‘skål‘ (cheers), and it adds a unique touch to the Swedish language. And if you want to see the letter ‘å’ in action, there’s even a small village in Östergötland County, Sweden that goes by the name of Å. With a population of about 200, it’s a charming reminder of the unique quirks of the Swedish culture.
ä – Pronounced ‘eh’, the letter is used in words like ‘äpple’ (apple) and ‘bäst’ (best).
ö – Pronounced ‘uh’, the letter is used in words like ‘köttbullar’ (meatballs) and ‘hög’ (high).
Finland
Ä
It’s like a little happy face with two dots for eyes, or maybe it’s just a super excited napping cat. Either way, the letter ä in Finnish is one of the ääkköset, those special Finnish vowels that sound like you’re trying to clear your throat. But don’t worry, mastering them is easy, just repeat after me: “Säätäjä sääti säännöt säännöllisesti.” See, now you sound like a true Finn! By the way, here’s a fun fact: in the Finnish alphabet, the letter ä, along with its counterpart ö, is considered a distinct letter and is alphabetized separately after z.
ö – The letter ö is a vowel in the Finnish alphabet that is pronounced similar to the “u” sound in the English word “turn” but with rounded lips.
å – The letter å is not originally a part of the Finnish alphabet, but it is used in some loanwords and personal names. It is pronounced like the “o” sound in “go”.
Denmark
Æ
It’s like the a and the e got together and had a baby. Maybe it’s a love story, who knows? But what we do know is that the letter æ has been around since Old English and has made its way into the Danish language. It’s a versatile letter that can sound like the “a” in “cat” or the “e” in “bed”, depending on the word. You can find it in words like “kærlighed” (love), “mælk” (milk), and “færdig” (finished). So while you’re reading fairy tales in original version by Hans Christian Andersen, be sure to practice saying “ræv” (fox) and “pære” (pear) with a proper æ sound. It’s all about the details!
ø – The letter “ø” is pronounced like the “u” in “hurt”, and is used in words like “smørrebrød” (open-faced sandwich) and “rødgrød med fløde” (a type of Danish dessert).
å – The letter “å” is pronounced like the “o” in “bored”, and is used in words like “årstid” (season) and “rådhus” (city hall).
Netherlands – Belgium
IJ
The Dutch language is known for its unique quirks, including the curious digraph ij. It’s considered a single letter in the Dutch alphabet, and has its own unique pronunciation that can be tricky for non-native speakers. You can find it in words like “ijs” (ice) and “lijst” (list), where it represents a vowel sound that’s somewhere between “i” and “e”. So the next time you’re learning Dutch, be sure to practice your ij sound! Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be fluent enough to enjoy a lekkerij (a delicious treat) with locals!
Germany – Austria – Luxembourg
ß
Let’s talk about the letter “ß” in the German alphabet, which looks like a funky “B” with a long tail. It’s a unique character that makes a “ss” sound, and it’s used in words like “Spaß” (fun), “Fußball” (football), and “Maß” (a liter mug of beer). Germans love their beer, and you’ll often find the “ß” on beer hall signs and menus. But where did this letter come from? Well, it’s a relatively new addition to the German alphabet, first appearing in the 19th century as a ligature of the letters “ſ” (long s) and “s” (short s). Next time you’re in Germany, don’t be afraid to use the “ß” – it’s the key to unlocking all the “Spaß”!
ä – The letter “ä” represents a sound similar to the “a” in “cat” but with rounded lips, and it’s used in words like “Mädchen” (girl) and “Mäuse” (mice).
ü – The letter “ü” represents a sound similar to the “u” in “put” but with rounded lips, and it’s used in words like “Müller” (miller) and “fühlen” (to feel).
ö – The letter “ö” represents a sound similar to the “e” in “her” but with rounded lips, and it’s used in words like “Österreich” (Austria) and “öffnen” (to open).
Switzerland
Ü
Did you know that the letter “ü” plays a big role in the Swiss language of Schwyzerdütsch? That’s right – this funky looking letter with two little dots above it is used in many Swiss German words, like “Grüezi” (hello) and “Chügelipastete” (a delicious Swiss pastry). It may look like a small detail, but the “ü” actually changes the pronunciation of a word quite a bit. So next time you’re in Switzerland, don’t be surprised to hear lots of “ü”s in conversation. Just be careful not to say “Schwyzerdütsch” too many times too fast, or you might end up tongue-tied!
ä – The letter “ä” represents a sound similar to the “a” in “cat” but with rounded lips, and it’s used in words like “Mädchen” (girl) and “Mäuse” (mice).
ö – The letter “ö” represents a sound similar to the “e” in “her” but with rounded lips, and it’s used in words like “Österreich” (Austria) and “öffnen” (to open).
Italy
…
Here’s a fun fact: the Italian alphabet is actually shorter than many other European languages! With only 21 letters, it’s missing some of the usual suspects like J, K, W, X, and Y. Italians might not have any special letters like the ß in German or the ç in French, but they make up for it with their hand gestures and expressive speaking style. In fact, some say that Italians have their own special “alphabet” of gestures that are just as important as the letters themselves.
Czechia
Ř
The Czech language is famous for its abundance of special letters, many of which are adorned with fancy accents. Think about ‘š‘ , ‘č‘ or even ‘ž‘ and ‘ň‘. They put accents literally ěvěřywhěřě, consonants and vowels alike – it’s like they’re playing an intense game of accent Tetris. And then there’s the letter ř – try saying that one three times fast! This elusive sound is a combination of a rolled “r” and a soft “zh” sound – like in Příroda (nature), Hřebec (stallion), Řeřicha (watercress), and Řeka (river) – which can be quite a challenge for non-native speakers.
ž – The letter ž is pronounced like the “s” in “treasure”. It’s often used in words related to animals, such as žirafa (giraffe) or želva (turtle).
š– The letter š is pronounced like the “sh” in “shoe”. It’s a common letter in Czech and is used in many words, such as škola (school) or šťastný (happy).
č – The letter č is pronounced like the “ch” in “check”. It’s used in many words related to food, such as čokoláda (chocolate) or čaj (tea).
ď – The letter ď is pronounced like the “d” in “duty”, but with a soft “y” sound added. It’s used in words like ďábel (devil) or ďalekohled (telescope).
ť – The letter ť is pronounced like the “t” in “tune”, but with a soft “y” sound added. It’s used in words like ťava (cow) or ťukat (knock).
ň – The letter ň is pronounced like the “ny” in “canyon”. It’s used in words like ňadro (core) or ňuchat (smell).
ů – The letter ů is pronounced like the “oo” in “moon”. It’s a relatively rare letter in Czech and can be found in the word dům (house).
Slovakia
Š
That’s a fact: the Slovak alphabet is the longest in Europe, with a whopping 46 letters! That’s enough to make your head spin faster than a Slovak folk dance! Among all those letters, there’s one that stands out – the letter “š”. It’s the coolest-looking letter in the Slovak alphabet, with a little hat on top that gives it an air of sophistication. But don’t be fooled by its fancy appearance – this letter is a workhorse in Slovak vocabulary, appearing in words like “škola” (school), “šport” (sport), and “knižnica” (library). Without the letter “š”, the Slovak language would be like a guitar without strings – still cool, but a little bit less poetic!
á – The letter ‘á’ is pronounced like the “a” in “father”, and it is used to indicate stress on the vowel.
ä – The letter ‘ä’ is pronounced like the “a” in “cat”, and it can be found in words like “väčší” (bigger) or “mäso” (meat).
ď – The letter ‘ď’ is pronounced like the “d” in “day”, but with a softer, palatal sound added to it. It is commonly found in words like “ďaleko” (far) or “ďakujem” (thank you).
é – The letter ‘é’ is pronounced like the “e” in “met”, and it is used to indicate stress on the vowel.
í – The letter ‘í’ is pronounced like the “ee” in “meet”, and it can be found in words like “nízky” (low) or “míňať” (to spend).
ľ – The letter ‘ľ’ is pronounced like the “l” in “little”, but with a soft, palatal sound added to it. It can be found in words like “ľudia” (people) or “ľahký” (light).
ň – The letter ‘ň’ is pronounced like the “ny” in “canyon”, and it can be found in words like “hňať” (to rush).
ó – The letter ‘ó’ is pronounced like the “o” in “hope”, and it is used to indicate stress on the vowel.
ô – The letter ‘ô’ is pronounced like the “aw” in “saw”, and it can be found in words like “vôbec” (at all) or “dôvera” (trust).
ŕ – The letter ‘ŕ’ is pronounced like a rolled “r”, similar to the sound in Spanish or Italian.
ť – The letter ‘ť’ is pronounced like the “t” in “tune”, but with a softer, palatal sound added to it. It can be found in words like “ťava” (straw) or “naťahovať” (to stretch).
ú – The letter ‘ú’ is pronounced like the “oo” in “moon”, and it can be found in words like “ústa” (mouth) or “útek” (escape).
ý – The letter ‘ý’ is pronounced like the “ee” in “meet”, but with a slight “y” sound added to it. It can be found in words like “dýchať” (to breathe) or “výhoda” (advantage).
ž – The letter ‘ž’ is pronounced like the “zh” in “azure”, and it can be found in words like “žena” (woman) or “žiť” (to live).
Poland
Ł
Yes, you read it well: the Polish language has a letter that looks like an “l” that got in a fight with a sharpie! It’s called “ł” and despite its unique appearance, it’s actually pronounced like a “w”. This pronunciation first appeared among Polish lower classes in the 16th century and was considered an uncultured accent by the upper classes. You can find “ł” in many Polish words, such as “miłość” (love), “łatwy” (easy), and “długi” (long). And if you need some motivation to master this tricky letter, just remember that two famous Poles have it in their name – world-famous scientist Marie Skłodowska Curie, and former pope Karol Józef Wojtyła.
ą – This letter is pronounced like “on” and represents a nasal sound in Polish. It can be found in words such as “rączka” (hand).
ć – This letter is pronounced like “ts” and represents a soft “c” sound in Polish.
ę – This letter is pronounced like “en” and represents a nasal sound in Polish. It can be found in words such as “język” (language).
ń – This letter is pronounced like “ny” and represents a nasal sound in Polish. It can be found in words such as “koń” (horse).
ó – This letter is pronounced like “oo” and represents a long “o” sound in Polish. It can be found in words such as “mój” (my).
ś – This letter is pronounced like “sh” and represents a soft “s” sound in Polish. It can be found in words such as “miś” (bear).
ź – This letter is pronounced like “zh” and represents a soft “z” sound in Polish. It can be found in words such as “rzeźnik” (butcher).
ż – This letter is pronounced like “zh” and represents a hard “z” sound in Polish. It can be found in words such as “żaba” (frog).
Lithuania
Ą
This curvy little letter is pronounced like a cross between an “a” and an “o,” so it’s kind of like a vowel with an identity crisis. The letter “ą” actually has its origins in the Old Polish alphabet, but the Lithuanians adopted it for their own use. It’s a pretty common letter in Lithuanian, appearing in words like “mąstymas” (thinking), “kąsnis” (a bite), and “gražus” (beautiful). Even though it may look small and unassuming, the ą is a big deal in Lithuanian. In fact, it’s such a big deal that it even has its own special key on Lithuanian keyboards!
č – The letter ‘č’ is pronounced like “ch” in English and can be found in words like “čempionas” (champion).
ę – The letter ‘ę’ is pronounced like “en” and is often used in words borrowed from Polish, such as “mėsa” (meat).
ė – The letter ‘ė’ has a unique sound somewhere between “e” and “a” and is used in words like “žemė” (earth).
į – The letter ‘į’ is pronounced like a long “ee” sound.
š – The letter ‘š’ is pronounced like “sh” and can be found in words like “šuo” (dog).
ų – The letter ‘ų’ is pronounced like “u” and “w” combined.
ū – The letter ‘ū’ is pronounced like “oo” and can be found in words like “būti” (to be).
ž – The letter ‘ž’ is pronounced like “zh” in English and can be found in words like “žemėlapį” (map).
Latvia
Ķ
Meet ķ – the letter that looks like a combination of a “k” and a “c” that got caught in a time warp. It’s pronounced like a soft “k,” but don’t let its cute appearance fool you – this letter has a rich history. In fact, ķ was originally introduced to the Latvian alphabet in the 16th century to represent a sound that was previously written as “ch”. Nowadays, it’s used in words like “ķepa” (hook), “ķirsis” (cherry), and “ķengurs” (kangaroo), which is kind of ironic, considering kangaroos are about as far from Latvia as you can get. So next time you see ķ, give it a little nod of respect for its quirky origins and unique sound.
ā – This vowel is pronounced as “ah” in “father” and is often used in Latvian to indicate long vowel sounds, for example, in the word “māja” which means “house”.
ē – This vowel is pronounced as “ay” in “say” and is also commonly used to indicate long vowel sounds, for example, in the word “vēstule” which means “letter”.
ī – This vowel is pronounced as “ee” in “see” and is used in Latvian to indicate long vowel sounds, for example, in the word “dīvāns” which means “sofa”.
ū – This vowel is pronounced as “oo” in “moon” and is also commonly used to indicate long vowel sounds.
č – This consonant is pronounced as “ch” in “church” and can be found in words like “mača” which means “knife”.
š – This consonant is pronounced as “sh” in “sheep” and can be found in words like “mašīna” which means “car”.
ž – This consonant is pronounced as “zh” in “treasure” and can be found in words like “aizmugurējošais” which means “rear”.
ģ – This consonant is pronounced as a voiced velar nasal sound.
ļ – This consonant is pronounced as a soft “l” sound, similar to the “l” sound in the English word “million”, and can be found in words like “zāļu” which means “herbs”.
ņ – This consonant is pronounced as a soft “n” sound and can be found in words like “ziņa” which means “news”.
Estonia
Õ
Ah, the elusive and exotic letter õ, the pièce de résistance of the Estonian alphabet! It’s the O with a fancy hat, or rather, a tilde. The õ is the brainchild of Otto Wilhelm Masing, the 19th-century Estonian linguist who added it to the alphabet. And it’s not just a pretty face – it’s actually quite important, often distinguishing between different words, like “mõõk” (sword) and “mook” (flourishing). And if one õ is fancy, then two õ’s must be downright luxurious! Some Estonian words go all out with the double õ, like “lõõg” (garlic), “põõsas” (bush), and “kõõlus” (swaying) – it’s like they’re showing off their fancy tildes.
ä – This letter sounds like the “a” in “cat,” but with your mouth wider and your tongue lower, as if you’re saying “eh.” For example, “täna” means “today.”
ö – This letter is pronounced like the “u” in “hurt,” but with your lips rounded as if you’re saying “oo.” For example, “töö” means “work.”
ü – This letter is pronounced like the French “u” or the German “ü,” with your lips rounded and your tongue high and in the front of your mouth. For example, “püük” means “fishing.”
Belarus
Ў
Are you ready to meet the wild child of the Belarusian alphabet? Say hello to the letter ў! It’s like a little worm, wriggling its way into words with reckless abandon. Some might say it’s the rebel of the alphabet, breaking free from the rigid lines of the other letters. But don’t let its quirky appearance fool you – this letter is important. It’s used to represent the sound “w” in words like “любоў” (love) and “дзеньгі” (money). So, while other letters might be content to follow the rules, the letter ў marches to the beat of its own drum, and we love it for that.
і – The letter і is still considered a separate letter in the Belarusian alphabet. This letter give the Belarusian language a distinctive character and contribute to its uniqueness among Slavic languages.
Ukraine
Є
Let me introduce you to a unique letter that exists only in the Ukrainian alphabet: the letter є! This quirky little character which looks like a backwards ‘3’ was introduced in medieval times, by combining the letters Е and І, which made the sound /je/ when pronounced together. Today, the letter є can be found in important words like “європейський” (meaning “European”) or “єдиний” (meaning “only”). So, the next time you come across the letter Є, remember that it’s a special symbol that’s unique to Ukrainian and has a fascinating history behind it!
і – This letter is similar to the letter I in English, but always written with a dot above it to distinguish it from the letter Ы (which is not used in Ukrainian). Example: “Інститут” (institute)
г – This letter represents the sound /ɡ/ (as in “go”) and is not used in Russian or other Slavic languages. Example: “Ґанок” (porch)
ї – This letter represents the sound /ji/ (as in “year”) and is similar to the Ukrainian letter Є in that it is not used in Russian. Example: “Їсти” (to eat)
Romania – Moldova
Ț
Hold on to your hats, folks, because we’re about to take a trip to the land of Dracula and cevapi – Romania! And while we’re there, we might as well talk about one of the coolest letters in the Romanian alphabet: the letter ț. This guy looks like a regular old “t,” but with a cute little comma underneath it. And what does it do? Well, it represents the sound /ts/, as in the word “cats.” You can find this fun little letter in words like “țară” (country), “țigări” (cigarettes), and “știință” (science). The letter ț gained its nobility in 1953 when it was officially added to the Romanian alphabet as a distinct character, separate from the letter “t.”
ă – This letter represents the sound /ə/ (as in the “a” in “sofa”) and is a distinct vowel sound in Romanian. It is used in words like “mărar” (dill)
â – This letter represents the sound /ɨ/ (as in the “u” in “hut”) and is sometimes used instead of “î” in certain words. It is used in words like “mâine” (tomorrow)
î – This letter represents the sound /ɨ/ (as in the “u” in “hut”) and is a distinct vowel sound in Romanian. It is used in words like “înțelegere” (understanding)
ș – This letter represents the sound /ʃ/ (as in the “sh” in “shoe”) and is a distinct consonant sound in Romanian. It is used in words like “școală” (school)
Hungary
Ő
When it comes to the Hungarian alphabet, one letter stands out as being particularly unique – the letter ő. This letter may look like two little dots sitting on top of an “o,” but in reality, those “dots” are actually accent marks that completely change the sound of the letter. When you see the letter ő in a word, you know you’re in for a treat – this letter represents a distinct sound that doesn’t exist in English or many other languages. Words like “tőke” (capital), “kő” (stone), and “gőz” (steam) all feature the magical letter ő.
á – This letter represents the sound /aː/ (as in the “a” in “father”) and is a distinct vowel sound in Hungarian. It is used in words like “pár” (couple)
é – This letter represents the sound /eː/ (as in the “a” in “made”) and is a distinct vowel sound in Hungarian. It is used in words like “él” (live)
í – This letter represents the sound /iː/ (as in the “ee” in “see”) and is a distinct vowel sound in Hungarian. It is used in words like “ír” (write)
ó – This letter represents the sound /oː/ (as in the “o” in “bore”) and is a distinct vowel sound in Hungarian. It is used in words like “óra” (hour)
ö – This letter represents the sound /ø/ (as in the “eu” in “feud”) and is a distinct vowel sound in Hungarian.
ú – This letter represents the sound /uː/ (as in the “oo” in “too”) and is a distinct vowel sound in Hungarian. It is used in words like “új” (new)
ü – This letter represents the sound /y/ (as in the “ü” in “düne”) and is a distinct vowel sound in Hungarian. It is used in words like “tündér” (fairy)
ű – This letter represents the sound /uː/ (as in the “oo” in “too”), but with rounded lips, and is a distinct vowel sound in Hungarian. It is used in words like “tűz” (fire)
Slovenia
Š
The Slovene letter “š” is like a secret agent among the alphabet letters, with its unique sound that’s hard to replicate in other languages. It’s a combination of a soft “shh” and a “ss” sound, giving it a special flavor that’s distinctively Slovene. You can find it in words like “šola” (school), “maščoba” (fat), and “košček” (a small piece). It’s also used in Slovene names like “Matejčič” and “Boštjančič,” adding an extra layer of charm to the language. If you’re looking to impress your Slovene friends, make sure to practice your “š” sound – it’s the key to unlocking the language’s secret agent coolness.
č – The Slovene letter “č” is pronounced like “ch” in “cheese” and can be found in words like “čas” (time), “čebula” (onion), and “čokolada” (chocolate).
ž – The Slovene letter “ž” is pronounced like the “s” in “measure” and can be found in words like “žoga” (ball), “žabica” (frog), and “železnica” (railway).
Croatia – Serbia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro – Kosovo
Đ
You know what’s great about the letter đ? It’s like a sneaky ninja letter, quietly slipping into words and adding a little something extra. It’s like the “DJ” of the alphabet, spinning the beats of the Serbo-Croatian language! In fact, it’s so specific to the language that it even has its own key on the Serbian and Croatian keyboards. The origins of đ can be traced back to Gaj’s Latin alphabet, which was created in the 19th century to standardize the writing of Serbo-Croatian. Interestingly enough, đ is also used in Vietnamese, but it has a different pronunciation altogether.
č – The letter “č”, pronounced like “ch”, in “chat”) is used to represent the “ch” sound in Serbo-Croatian words, for instance in the word “čovek” (“person”).
ć – The letter “ć”, pronounced like “ch” in “church”, is also used to represent the “ch” sound in Serbo-Croatian words, for instance in the word “noć” (“night”) but it has a slightly different pronunciation than “č”.
dž – The letter combination “dž”, pronounced like “j” in “jump”, represents the “j” sound in Serbo-Croatian words, for instance in the word “džemper” (“sweater”).
lj – The letter combination “lj”, pronounced like “ly” in “lute”, represents a unique sound in Serbo-Croatian that is similar to “ly” in English, for instance in the word “ljubav” (“love”).
nj – The letter combination “nj”, pronounced like “ny” in “canyon”, represents a unique sound in Serbo-Croatian that is similar to “ny” in English.
š – The letter “š”, pronounced like “sh” in “shoe”, is used to represent the “sh” sound in Serbo-Croatian words like in “škola” (“school”).
ž – The letter “ž”, pronounced like “zh” in “azure”, is used to represent the “zh” sound in Serbo-Croatian words, like in “žena” (“woman”).
Albania
Ç
You may think you know the letter “ç” from French, but in Albanian, it’s a whole different beast! This sneaky little letter looks innocent enough, but don’t be fooled – it’s got some serious attitude. The letter “ç” is used to represent a unique sound in Albanian that’s kind of like a “ch” sound, but not exactly. In Albanian, you’ll find “ç” in words like “çift” (“couple”), “çarçaf” (“sheet”), and “çikërrim” (“giggle”). Now you know that the Albanian letter “ç” is more than just a fancy-looking “c” – it’s a letter with character, and it adds a unique flavor to the Albanian language!
ë – The letter “ë” is used to represent a unique sound that’s pronounced like the “e” in “met,” but longer. For example, in the Albanian word “përshëndetje” (“hello”).
Bulgaria
Ъ
Who knew that a tiny letter could pack such a big linguistic punch? The Bulgarian letter Ъ (pronounced “uh”) is called the “hard sign” and it’s used to indicate a slightly harder pronunciation of the preceding consonant. For example, the word “български” (“Bulgarian”) sounds a bit like “bul-garski” with a sharp “g” sound thanks to that letter. Other common words that use Ъ include “съм” (I am), “държава” (country), and “любов” (love). So, embrace the Ъ and add some Bulgarian flair to your language skills!
Ю – The letter, pronounced “yu” represents the sound “yu” as in the word “юбилей” (jubilee).
Я – The letter, pronounced “ya”, represents the sound “ya” as in the word “ябълка” (apple).
North Macedonia
ѓ
The Macedonian language has a letter that no other language in the world uses: it’s called ѓ (pronounced “gj”) and it’s a wild card of a letter. The sound it represents is like a cross between a “g” and a “j,” which makes it a challenge to pronounce. But fear not! The letter ѓ can add some extra flavor to your Macedonian vocab. For example, the word “ѓавол” (devil) sounds way more menacing with a soft “gj” than with a plain old “g.” Other common words that use ѓ include “буѓав” (ugly), “ѓердан” (necklace), and “преѓерен” (exaggerated). Who knew that one little letter could add so much personality to a language?
ќ – The letter ќ, pronounced “kj”, is a unique letter in the Bulgarian alphabet that represents a palatalized “k” sound, as in the word “ќерка” (daughter), which is pronounced “kjerka” in Macedonian.
Greece – Cyprus
Π
The Greek alphabet is unique to the language, and even though we encounter its letters in other contexts, they still belong exclusively to Greek. Take the letter π as an example, which represents the famous mathematical constant for the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. But did you know that π has a much longer history in Greek culture, and it appears in many common Greek words? It appears in many common Greek words such as “παράδειγμα” (example) and “παιχνίδι” (game).
Since all the letters in the Greek alphabet are unique to the language, it’s worth taking the time to explore the full alphabet to appreciate its richness and diversity. In addition to the familiar letters like alpha and beta, there are many other fancy and intriguing letters, such as chi (χ), phi (φ), and omega (ω)
Turkey
Ş
The Turks liked the cedilla so much that they put it on not only one, but two letters! The letter ‘ç’ is a familiar sight to many, but have you met its cousin ‘ş’? That’s right, the cedilla is also used to modify the ‘s’ in Turkish to create the unique letter ‘ş’, which sounds like ‘sh’ in English. This versatile letter is used in many Turkish words, such as başka (different/other), kuş (bird), and maşa (fork). The cedilla accent on the letter ‘ş’ does add a unique and distinctive character to its appearance.
ç – The letter “ç” is pronounced as “ch” in English, and it is used in Turkish words like “açık” (open).
ğ – The letter “ğ” is a silent letter in Turkish, but it lengthens the vowel sound that comes before it. For example, in the word “yağmur” (rain), the “ğ” lengthens the “a” sound.
ı – The letter “ı” is pronounced as a short “i” sound, and it is used in Turkish words like “gıda” (food).
ö – The letter “ö” is pronounced as “ur” in English, and it is used in Turkish words like “gözlük” (glasses).
ü – The letter “ü” is pronounced as “u” with rounded lips, and it is used in Turkish words like “süt” (milk).
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