Note on the pronunciation of Avestan words and names

In the system of transcription used by modern Western scholars letters have approximately the following values:

ą	a nasalized ‘a’, like French ‘en’
å	as ‘aw’ in ‘law’
aē	as ‘y’ in ‘my’
ao	as ‘ou’ in ‘loud’
β	like a ‘w’ pronounced through closed lips
c	as ‘ch’ in ‘church’
δ	s ‘th’ in ‘this’
ə	as ‘a’ in ‘alone’
γ	s ‘gh’ in ‘aargh’ (on being strangled)
ii	as ‘y’ in ‘yard’
η	as ‘ng’ in ‘sing’
ηv	the same combined with a ‘w’
š	s ‘sh’ in ‘ship’
θ	s ‘th’ in ‘thing’
uu, v	s ‘w’ in ‘twin’
x	as ‘ch’ in ‘loch’
xv	the same combined with a ‘w’
ž	s ‘s’ in ‘pleasure’

A macron (as in ā, ē, etc.) indicates a lengthened vowel. Other diacritics (as in ) may be ignored.