Modern and contemporary Czech art/The pronunciation of Czech words
THE PRONUNCIATION OF CZECH WORDS
(In “Czech,” the English spelling of Čech, the cz is pronounced like “ch” in “cherry,” and the final “ch” like “ch” in the Scotch “loch”—or like the German “ch” in “Buch”).
The consonants are pronounced like their English equivalents with the following exceptions:—
chc is a gutteral(unmarked) is pron. like chts in its.
chj is a gutteral„ is„ pron.„ like„ chy in yes.
ch is a gutteral is pron.„ like„ ch in Scotch “loch.”
chč is a gutteral(marked) is„ pron.„ like„ ch in cherry, as Čermák, pron. Cher-mahk.
chš is a gutte„ral is„ pron.„ like„ chsh in she, as Aleš, pron. Ul-esh.
chž is a gutte„ral is„ pron.„ like„ chz in azure (zh), as Brožík, pron. Brozh-eek.
chř is a gutte„ral is„ pron.„ like„ rolled r followed by ž (rzh), as Mařák, pron. marzh-ahk
Vowels are pronounced as follows:—
a like short oou in but.
e like„ short„ ooe in pen.
o like„ short„ ooo in log.
u like„ short„ oo in took.
y like„ short„ ooy in hymn.
An accent over the vowel (´) indicates length:—
ú or ůá like the ooa in father.
ú or ůé like„ the„ ooa in May.
ú or ůí like„ the„ ooee in sheep.
ú or ůý like„ the„ ooi in machine.
ú or ů like„ the„ oo in doom, cool.
A hook over e (ě) softens it into ye; as in Purkyně, pron. Poor-kyn-ye(r).
The primary stress in Czech words always falls on the first syllable.