Pronunciation

Vowels

Unstressed "а", "ь", "о", "у" tend to be shorter and weaker compared to their stressed counterparts, approaching each other, though without merging completely.

a ah
like in father or manifacture

e eh
like in pen or attend

и i
like in sin or to be

ий long i
like in sea or keyboard

o oh
like in more or nothing

у uh
like in tuna or full

ъ ə
like in about or bulk

Semivowels

й y (i-kratko/i-short)
like in yes or play

Before a vowel (after another vowel or at the beginning of a word) denotes a diphthong like in "crayon" or "yes". After a vowel at the end of the word denotes very short 'i' like in "play" or "fly". Can be used only next to vowels and not before or after a consonant.