Lesson 10: The Second Long Vowel

This lesson deals with the second long vowel which is the letter 'waow'. Recall that the 'waow' may have a vowel of its own; in this case, it is not a long vowel. Also, it may be empty of the three vowels but preceding it may be a fathha; in this case too, it is not a long vowel. The final situation is where the 'waow' is empty of the three vowels and preceding it is its appropriate vowel; the dhamma; this 'waow' is a long vowel.

This 'waow' is called the 'waow' maddah. In the following charts, the letters of the alphabet have been given a dhamma, and a 'waow' empty of vowels has been placed after each letter. In lesson 12 we will learn more about the lack of vowels and that letters adopt a special symbol to indicate on their emptiness. For now, however, the 'waow' has been left clear of symbols to avoid confusion.

The letter 'baa' with a dhamma atop it, for example, sounds like 'bu'. But adding the 'waow' causes the word to sound like 'buu'.

Please read through the alphabet and click on each letter to listen to a demonstration of the sound the letters make with the long vowel. Please attempt the exercise as it will revise all that we have learned thus far.