https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnFinnish/comments/13fqsax/pronunciation_for_ä/
created by victor030503 on 12/05/2023 at 17:01 UTC
38 upvotes, 32 top-level comments (showing 25)
I just started learning Finnish and I always can't get the right pronunciation for ä. Is it like the " a" in "apple"? Or "a" in "can't" ? Thanks!
Comment by orbitti at 12/05/2023 at 17:15 UTC
55 upvotes, 1 direct replies
bat (the mammal)
Comment by isolemnlyswearnot at 12/05/2023 at 17:49 UTC
33 upvotes, 1 direct replies
As someone said already, ”a” in word ”accident” is very much like we pronounce ä.
Comment by waijinjin at 12/05/2023 at 17:05 UTC
44 upvotes, 2 direct replies
depends on your accent.
Comment by Tuotau at 12/05/2023 at 19:19 UTC
23 upvotes, 1 direct replies
It's a near-open front unrounded vowel[1] /æ/
1: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-open_front_unrounded_vowel
The Wikipedia article has also an audio sample
Comment by pinzinella at 12/05/2023 at 17:43 UTC
36 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Yes, and similar to *a* in "*accident*" (it sounds like *äksident* to a Finn).
Comment by strzeka at 12/05/2023 at 19:50 UTC
15 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Finnish Aa is like southern GB English fAther, fAster, fArt.
Finnish Ää is like southern GB English fAthom, fAntAstic, fAndAngo. How you say 'cat'.
Comment by Pie_Crown at 12/05/2023 at 20:57 UTC
13 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Bätmän
Comment by Penisdestroyer7mil at 12/05/2023 at 18:28 UTC
10 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I think watching a video might be more helpful
Comment by YV_was_a_boss at 12/05/2023 at 18:12 UTC
20 upvotes, 2 direct replies
what do you mean apple or can't? I pronounce them both with ä, äpple and cän't. I suppose if you were to do it in "queen's english" instead of an american accent they would be two different sounds, but I think the possibility for confusion makes this a bad example
Comment by Eastern_Slide7507 at 12/05/2023 at 18:52 UTC
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Take one of the words you’re struggling with, put it into google translate and click the little speaker.
Comment by dude83fin at 12/05/2023 at 19:20 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Cat
Comment by BUKKAKELORD at 12/05/2023 at 17:41 UTC
10 upvotes, 2 direct replies
bät cät träp
lööning (learning)
Comment by Conspiracy_risk at 12/05/2023 at 20:47 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
In Standard Finnish, 'ä' is pronounced like the 'a' in the English word 'apple.' Now, American English has something called æ-tensing, where that vowel sound changes in various positions, like before the letter 'n'. For instance, "can't" tends to be pronounced more like "caen't" (sort of, it's hard to do phonetic transcriptions just using English). In Finnish, however, this doesn't happen. Ä in Finnish is always pronounced like in 'apple'. Some dialects might pronounce it a little differently, idk. However, that is how it is pronounced in Standard Finnish at least.
Hope this helps!
Comment by BrainSpotter22 at 12/05/2023 at 19:42 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
said like english "at" but leave the t off from pronunciation.
Comment by melli_milli at 12/05/2023 at 17:08 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Apple.
Comment by Grouchy_Command4419 at 12/05/2023 at 19:34 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Do you mean british apple or american one? Same question with all the examples.
Comment by _modsaregay at 12/05/2023 at 17:45 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
form your mouth as though you were trying to say “aaaaaah” and then without changing the shape of your mouth say “eeeeeee”
Comment by weissbieremulsion at 12/05/2023 at 17:20 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
yeah pronounce it like the a from apple and youll be fine.
Comment by ridingurmomtosunset at 12/05/2023 at 17:18 UTC
4 upvotes, 2 direct replies
If you pronounce those words like "äpl" and "cänt" then yeah, its the same. If not, then no.
Comment by saschaleib at 12/05/2023 at 17:46 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
In Finnish, 'ä' is the near-open front unrounded vowel ⟨æ⟩. Easy-peasy.
Comment by onlyr6s at 12/05/2023 at 20:05 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Like A in apple.
Comment by civilconvo at 12/05/2023 at 20:32 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
bäd
Comment by MikkoPerkele at 12/05/2023 at 20:52 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Kiss my ääs
Comment by Boop_de_doop at 12/05/2023 at 22:29 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I always tell people that ä is pronounced like the a in cat or attic. Both work with British and American English at least, unlike can't as an example as that works if pronounced in American English but is pronounced different is British English.
Comment by Ok-Butterfly4414 at 12/05/2023 at 23:14 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Where are you from? For me those two words have the same vowel, [æ]