Ojibwe writing and Sound Chart

There is no mutually agreed upon writing system that is used for the Ojibwe language in all of its locales. However a number of systems have been used, some more popular than others. One of these systems is called the Double-vowel system. Developed by Charles Fiero, this system uses seven vowels, 15 cosnonants, and one glottal stop. Approximations of the sounds in the examples below may provide a reference for understanding how the Double-vowel system works.

The basic alphabet that is used:

a, aa, b, c d, e, g, h ',i, ii, j, k, m, n, o, oo, p, s, t, w, y, z

The sounds below are only approximations and should always be supplemented with the language of fluent speakers.

double vowel	phonemic	English	Ojibwe
a (short vowel)	uh	about	asemaa
aa (long vowel)	aah	father	aanin
e (long vowel)	ay	cafe	memengwaa
i (short vowel)	ih	pin	gimiwan
ii (long vowel)	ee	seen	niiwin
o (short vowel)	oh	open	ojibwemo
oo (long vowel)	oo	boot	googii
Consonants	Ojibwe	meaning	a similar sound in English
b	bakade	s/he is hungry	book, speak
ch	chi-ogin	tomato	cheese
d	dagoshin	s/he arrives	do, stop
g	gaazhagens	cat	geese,ski
h	hay'	opps! darn!	hi
'	bakite'an	hit it!	uh oh
j	jiimaan	canoe	jump
k	makazin	shoe	pcik
m	miinan	blueberries	man
n	namebin	sucker	name
p	baapiwag	they are laughing	rip
s	wiisini	s/he is eating	miss
sh	nishkaadizi	s/he is angry	bush
t	mitig	tree	pit
w	waabang	tomorrow	way
y	babagiwayaan	shirt	yellow
z	ziibi	river	zebra
zh	zhaangaswi	nine	measure

Example: ishwasemidaana ishwaswe zhangaswe - 88-9, -ish-was-ay-mid-ahna, ish-was-way, zhah-gas-way
                odaawa zaaga'igining, -lake of ottowa, - oh-dah-wa, zah-ga-uh-i-gin-ing