Stop consonants get their name becaue the sounds are formed by stopping air for a split second as it moves out of the mouth. The air can be stopped in a number of places, in your throat, the back or middle of your mouth, at your teeth or even on your lips. For example, try making a k sound. Without stopping the air in your mouth, it would sound like an h. The letters below are listed in order of where the air is stopped, beginning in the back of the throat and moving forward.

Alutiiq q is pronounced by bringing the back of your tongue up to the rear roof of your mouth (where your uvula hangs down) and making a q sound. To some this may sound like a k, but is produced further back in the throat. Example word: qiteq (rain)

Alutiiq k sounds like English k, but a bit softer and less explosive. It sounds more like the k in skirt than the harsh k at the beginning of kite. When k occurs between two single vowels a, i, or u, it sounds more like an English g. Example word: keneq (fire) Example word: akit (money)

The Alutiiq letter kw is equivalent to the English letter combination kw. Example word: Example word: kwegluku (to lift it up) Example word: neregkwarluku (to feed him/her/it)

Sounds like the ch sound in chicken. When c appears in a word between two single vowels, a, i, or u it sounds more like an English j. Example word: cuuteq (ear) Example word: macaq (sun)

Alutiiq t sounds much like the English t except that it is pronounced with less force. When t occurs between two single vowels a, i, u, it sounds more like English d. Example word: tamuuq (dried fish) Example word: qatayaq (sea gull)

P in Alutiiq usually sounds like English p, but less explosive. When p occurs between two single vowels, a, i, or u, it sounds more like English b. Example word: piugta (dog) Example word: napaq (tree or pole)

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