Write Baybayin

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Spelling Rules

The most important thing to remember when writing baybayin script is to spell the words as they sound and not as they are spelled in modern Filipino or other languages.

• Each character (or titik) is a complete syllable with an a vowel sound. e.g. bb = baba
• To change the vowel sound to e or i, place a mark (called a kudlit) above the character. e.g. bibe = bibe
• To change the vowel sound to o or u, place the kudlit below the character. e.g. bobo = bobo
• Only use the vowel characters (A, I, U) when the syllable has no consonant. e.g. bbE = babae
• If a character is not pronounced with any vowel, do not write it. For example, the letters n and k should not be written in the word bundok. e.g. budo = bu(n)dok).
• Or, as an alternative, characters without vowels may be written if you use the so-called reformed baybayin that was introduced by a Spaniard, Francisco Lopez, in 1620. Just place a small cross (+) under the character to cancel the sound of the vowel. e.g. bun+dok+ = bundok

And Remember:

• da and ra are usually represented by the same character ( d ) but Lopez also used la ( l ) to write the r sound in Ilokano.
• nga is one character: N, not two: ng (na, ga).
• The words ng and mga are handled automatically by the translator, so there is no need to spell it as nang or manga, respectively.