X-SAMPA

   

The Extended SAM Phonetic Alphabet (X-SAMPA) is a variant of SAMPA developed in 1995 by John C. Wells, professor of phonetics at the University of London. It was designed to unify the individual language SAMPA alphabets, and extend SAMPA to cover the entire range of characters in the International Phonetic Alphabet.

The result is a SAMPA-inspired recasting of the IPA into 7-bit ASCII.

Summary

Notes

  • The IPA symbols that are ordinary lower-case letters have the same value in X-SAMPA as they do in the IPA.
  • X-SAMPA uses a following backslash as an escape character to create a new symbol. For example O is a distinct sound from O\, to which it bears no relation.
  • X-SAMPA diacritics follow the symbols they modify. Except for ~ for nasalization, = for syllabicity, and ` for retroflexion and rhoticity, diacritics are joined to the character with the underscore character _.
  • The numbers _1 through _6 are reserved diacritics as shorthand for language-specific tone numbers.

Lowercase symbols

XS IPA IPA Description Examples
a a Image:Xsampa-a.png open low front unrounded vowel French dame [dam], Spanish padre ["padre]
b b Image:Xsampa-b.png voiced bilabial plosive English bed [bEd], French bon [bO~]
b_< ɓ Image:Xsampa-b lessthan.png bilabial voiced implosive  
c c Image:Xsampa-c.png voiceless palatal plosive Hungarian latyak [lAcAk]
d d Image:Xsampa-d.png voiced alveolar plosive English dog [dQg], French doigt [dwa]
d` ɖ Image:Xsampa-d'.png voiced retroflex plosive Swedish hord [hu:d`]
d_< ɗ Image:Xsampa-d lessthan.png dental/alveolar voiced implosive  
e e Image:Xsampa-e.png close-mid front unrounded vowel French ses [se]
f f Image:Xsampa-f2.png voiceless labiodental fricative English five [faIv], French femme [fam]
g g Image:Xsampa-g.png voiced velar plosive English game [geIm], French longue [lO~g]
g_< ɠ Image:Xsampa-g lessthan.png voiced velar implosive  
h h Image:Xsampa-h.png voiceless glottal fricative English house [haUs]
h\ ɦ Image:Xsampa-hslash.png voiced glottal fricative  
i i Image:Xsampa-i.png tense close front unrounded vowel English be [bi:], French oui [wi], Spanish si [si]
j j Image:Xsampa-j2.png palatal approximant English yes [jEs], French yeux [j2]
j\ ʝ Image:Xsampa-jslash2.png voiced palatal fricative  
k k Image:Xsampa-k.png voiceless velar plosive English cat [k{t], Spanish carro ["kar:o]
l l Image:Xsampa-l.png alveolar lateral approximant English lay [leI], French mal [mal]
l` ɭ Image:Xsampa-l'.png retroflex lateral approximant Swedish sorl [so:l`]
l\ ɺ Image:Xsampa-lslash.png voiced alveolar lateral flap Japanese phoneme /r/
m m Image:Xsampa-m.png bilabial nasal English mouse [maUs], French homme [Om]
n n Image:Xsampa-n.png alveolar nasal English nap [n{p], French non [nO~]
n` ɳ Image:Xsampa-n'.png retroflex nasal Swedish hörn [h2:n`]
o o Image:Xsampa-o.png close-mid back rounded vowel French gros [gRo]
p p Image:Xsampa-p.png voiceless bilabial plosive English hop [hQp], French pose [poz], Spanish perro ["per:o]
p\ ɸ Image:Xsampa-pslash.png voiceless bilabial fricative Japanese fuku [p\M_0kM], Scanian sju [p\@}]
q q Image:Xsampa-q.png voiceless uvular plosive Arabic qasbah ["qQs_Gba]
r r Image:Xsampa-r.png alveolar trill Spanish perro ["per:o]
r` ɽ Image:Xsampa-r'.png retroflex tap or flap  
r\ ɹ Image:Xsampa-rslash2.png voiced (post-)alveolar approximant English red [r\Ed]
r\` ɻ Image:Xsampa-rslash'.png retroflex approximant  
s s Image:Xsampa-s.png voiceless alveolar fricative English seem [si:m], French session [se.sjO~]
s` ʂ Image:Xsampa-s'.png voiceless retroflex fricative Swedish mars [mas`]
s\ ɕ Image:Xsampa-sslash.png voiceless alveolopalatal fricative Polish świerszcz
t t Image:Xsampa-t.png voiceless alveolar plosive English too [tu:], French raté [Rate], Spanish tuyo
t` ʈ Image:Xsampa-t'.png voiceless retroflex plosive Swedish mört [m2t`]
u u Image:Xsampa-u.png tense close back rounded vowel English boom [bu:m], Spanish su [su]
v v Image:Xsampa-v.png voiced labioldental fricative English vest [vEst], French voix [vwa]
v\ (or P) ʋ Image:Xsampa-Porvslash.png labiodental approximant  
w w Image:Xsampa-w2.png labiovelar approximant English west [wEst], French oui [wi]
x x Image:Xsampa-x.png voiceless velar fricative Scottish loch [lQx]
x\ ɧ Image:Xsampa-xslash2.png voiceless postalveolar and velar fricative Occurs in Swedish
y y Image:Xsampa-y.png tense close front rounded vowel French tu [ty]
z z Image:Xsampa-z.png voiced alveolar fricative English zoo [zu:], French azote [azOt]
z` ʐ Image:Xsampa-z'.png voiced retroflex fricative  
z\ ʑ Image:Xsampa-zslash.png voiced alveolopalatal fricative Polish źrebak


Uppercase symbols

XS IPA IPA Description Example
A ɑ Image:Xsampa-A2.png open back unrounded vowel English father [fAD@]
B β Image:Xsampa-B2.png voiced bilabial fricative  
B\ ʙ Image:Xsampa-Bslash.png voiced bilabial trill Reminiscent of shivering ("brrr")
C ç Image:Xsampa-C2.png voiceless palatal fricative German Ich, English human (although this can also begin with [hj])
D ð Image:Xsampa-D2.png voiced dental fricative English then [DEn]
E ɛ Image:Xsampa-E2.png open-mid front unrounded vowel French même [mEm], English bed [bEd]
F ɱ Image:Xsampa-F.png labiodental nasal English emphasis ["EFf@sIs] (spoken quickly, otherwise ["Emf@sIs])
G γ Image:Xsampa-G2.png voiced velar fricative Greek γονία [Go"nia]
G\ ɢ Image:Xsampa-Gslash.png voiced uvular plosive  
G\_< ʛ Image:Xsampa-Gslash lessthan.png voiced uvular implosive  
H ɥ Image:Xsampa-H.png labial-palatal semivowel French huit [Hi]
H\ ʜ Image:Xsampa-Hslash.png voiceless epiglottal fricative  
I ɪ Image:Xsampa-I2.png lax close front unrounded vowel English kit [kIt]
I\     central lax close unrounded vowel, not in IPA  
J ɲ Image:Xsampa-J.png palatal nasal Spanish año, English canyon (although this can also use [nj])
J\ ɟ Image:Xsampa-Jslash.png voiced palatal plosive Hungarian egy [EJ\]
J\_<   Image:Xsampa-Jslash lessthan.png voiced palatal implosive  
K ɬ Image:Xsampa-K2.png voiceless alveolar lateral fricative Welsh llaw
K\ ɮ Image:Xsampa-Kslash.png voiced alveolar lateral fricative  
L ʎ Image:Xsampa-L2.png palatal lateral Italian famiglia, Castilian phoneme /ll/ as in llamar [La"mar]
L\ ʟ Image:Xsampa-Lslash.png voiced velar lateral English phoneme /5/
M ɯ Image:Xsampa-M.png close back unrounded vowel Korean 으 (eu)
M\ ɰ Image:Xsampa-Mslash.png velar approximant Spanish fuego
N ŋ Image:Xsampa-N2.png velar nasal English thing [TIN]
N\ ɴ Image:Xsampa-Nslash.png uvular nasal Japanese san [saN\]
O ɔ Image:Xsampa-O2.png open-mid back rounded vowel British English thought [TO:t]
O\ ʘ Image:Xsampa-Oslash.png bilabial click  
P (or v\) ʋ Image:Xsampa-Porvslash.png labiodental approximant Dutch phoneme /w/, allophone of English phoneme /r\/
Q ɒ Image:Xsampa-Q.png open back rounded vowel British English lot [lQt]
R ʁ Image:Xsampa-R2.png voiced uvular fricative French roi [Rwa]
R\ ʀ Image:Xsampa-Rslash.png voiced uvular trill German phoneme /r/
S ʃ Image:Xsampa-S2.png voiceless palatoalveolar fricative English ship [SIp]
T θ Image:Xsampa-T2.png voiceless dental fricative English thin [TIn]
U ʊ Image:Xsampa-U2.png lax close back rounded vowel English foot [fUt]
U\     central lax close rounded vowel, not in IPA  
V ʌ Image:Xsampa-V.png open-mid back unrounded vowel English strut [str\Vt]
W ʍ Image:Xsampa-X.png voiceless labial-velar fricative Scottish when
X χ Image:Xsampa-x2.png voiceless uvular fricative Welsh bach
X\ ħ Image:Xsampa-Xslash.png voiceless pharyngeal fricative Arabic ha’
Y ʏ Image:Xsampa-Y2.png lax close front rounded vowel German hübsch
Z ʒ Image:Xsampa-Z2.png voiced palatoalveolar fricative English vision ["vIZ@n]


Other symbols

XS IPA IPA Description Example
.   Image:Xsampa-fullstop.png syllable break  
" ˈ Image:Xsampa-doublequotes.png primary stress  
% ˌ Image:Xsampa-percentage.png secondary stress  
& ɶ Image:Xsampa-amper.png open front rounded vowel Dan. drømme
' (or _j) ʲ Image:Xsampa-'or j.png palatalized  
*     undefined escape character, SAMPA's "conjunctor"  
-     separator  
/     indeterminacy in French vowels  
{ æ Image:Xsampa-leftcurly.png near-open front unrounded vowel English trap [tr\{p]
} ʉ Image:Xsampa-rightcurly.png close central rounded vowel Swedish sju [S}:]
1 ɨ Image:Xsampa-1.png close central unrounded vowel Welsh tu
2 ø Image:Xsampa-2.png close-mid front rounded vowel Fr deux [d2]
3 ɜ Image:Xsampa-3.png long mid central vowel British English nurse [n3:s]
3\ ɞ Image:Xsampa-3slash.png open-mid central rounded vowel  
4 ɾ Image:Xsampa-4.png voiced alveolar tap Spanish pero, American English better
5 ɫ Image:Xsampa-l eor5.png dark l; see also _e English milk [mI5k]
6 ɐ Image:Xsampa-6.png open schwa German besser
7 ɤ Image:Xsampa-7.png close-mid back unrounded vowel Occurs in Vietnamese
8 ɵ Image:Xsampa-8.png close-mid central rounded vowel Swedish buss
9 œ Image:Xsampa-9.png open-mid front rounded vowel Fr neuf [n9f]
: ː Image:Xsampa-colon.png long  
:\ ˑ Image:Xsampa-colonslash.png half long Estonian differentiates three vowel lengths
<     begin nonsegmental notation (e.g., SAMPROSA)  
<\ ʢ Image:Xsampa-lessthanslash.png voiced epiglottal fricative  
>     end nonsegmental notation  
>\ ʡ Image:Xsampa-greaterthanslash.png epiglottal plosive  
? ʔ Image:Xsampa-questionmark.png glottal stop German Verein, also Danish stød
?\ ʕ Image:Xsampa-qmarkslash.png voiced pharyngeal fricative Arabic ‘ayn
@ ə Image:Xsampa-at.png schwa English banana [b@"nAn@] (RP) or [b@"n{n@] (Gen.Am.)
@\ ɘ Image:Xsampa-atslash.png close-mid central unrounded vowel  
^ ↑ Image:Xsampa-hat.png upstep  
! ↓ Image:Xsampa-exclamation.png downstep  
!\ ǃ Image:Xsampa-exclamationslash.png retroflex click  
|   Image:Xsampa-bar.png minor (foot) group  
|\ ǀ Image:Xsampa-barslash.png dental click  
||   Image:Xsampa-doublebar.png major (intonation) group  
|\|\ ǁ Image:Xsampa-doublebarslash.png lateral click  
=\ ǂ Image:Xsampa-equalsslash.png alveolar click  
-\ ̮ Image:Xsampa-dashslash.png linking mark  


Diacritics

XS IPA IPA Description
_" ¨ Image:Xsampa- doublequotes.png centralized
_+ ˖ Image:Xsampa- plus.png advanced
_- ˗ Image:Xsampa- minus.png retracted
_/ ˇ   rising
_0 ̥ Image:Xsampa- 0.png voiceless
_<     implosive
= (or _=)   ̩ Image:Xsampa-equalsor equals.png syllabic
_> ʼ Image:Xsampa- greaterthan.png ejective
_?\ ˤ Image:Xsampa- questionslash.png pharyngealized
_\ ˆ   falling tone
_^   ̯ Image:Xsampa- hat.png non-syllabic
_}   ̚ Image:Xsampa- rightcurly.png no audible release
` ˞ Image:Xsampa-'rhino.png rhoticity in vowels, retroflexion in consonants (IPA uses separate symbols for consonants, see t` for an example)
~ (or _~) ~ Image:Xsampa-tildor tild.png nasalization
_A   ̘ Image:Xsampa- A.png advanced tongue root
_a   ̺ Image:Xsampa- a2.png apical
_B   ̏ Image:Xsampa- B.png extra low tone
_B_L   Image:Xsampa- B L.png low rising tone
_c   ̜ Image:Xsampa- c.png less rounded
_d   ̪ Image:Xsampa- d.png dental
_e ~ Image:Xsampa- e.png velarized or pharyngealized; see also 5
<F>   Image:Xsampa-ltFgt.png global fall
_F ^ Image:Xsampa- F.png falling tone
_G   ˠ Image:Xsampa- G.png velarized
_H ˊ Image:Xsampa- H.png high tone
_H_T   Image:Xsampa- H T.png high rising tone
_h ʰ Image:Xsampa- h.png aspirated
_j (or ') ʲ Image:Xsampa-'or j.png palatalized
_k   ̰ Image:Xsampa- k.png creaky voice
_L ` Image:Xsampa- L.png low tone
_l ˡ Image:Xsampa- l.png lateral release
_M ¯ Image:Xsampa- M.png mid tone
_m   ̻ Image:Xsampa- m.png laminal
_N ̼ Image:Xsampa- N.png linguolabial
_n n Image:Xsampa- n2.png nasal release
_O   ̹ Image:Xsampa O.png more rounded
_o ˕ Image:Xsampa- o.png lowered
_q ̙ Image:Xsampa- q.png retracted tongue root
<R>   Image:Xsampa-ltRgt.png global rise
_R ˇ Image:Xsampa- R.png rising tone
_R_F   Image:Xsampa- R F.png rising falling tone
_r ˔ Image:Xsampa- r.png raised
_T ˝ Image:Xsampa- T.png extra high tone
_t ̤ Image:Xsampa- t.png breathy voice
_v ˬ Image:Xsampa- v.png voiced
_w ʷ Image:Xsampa- w.png labialized
_X ˘ Image:Xsampa- X.png extra-short
_x ˟ Image:Xsampa- x.png mid-centralized


See also

External links

es:X-SAMPA ja:X-SAMPA hu:X-SAMPA pt:X-SAMPA

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