On the other hand there is an extraordinary wealth of vowel sounds, and it is of capital importance to learn the exact pronunciation of them all.
The simple sounds are eight in number.
A is the Italian a (English a in rather or father), but pronounced quicker. It is always short.
E is the English e in met.
I is the English i in bit.
O is the English o in hot.
U is the English u in bull.
Y is the German ü in über.
Ä, which must be carefully distinguished from A, is the short English a heard in hat, or trap, and must not be pronounced as the English a in late. Thus hän, he, is pronounced exactly like hand without the final d. At the end of words (e.g. työtä) ä is more difficult for an Englishman to pronounce, as the sound is not found in English as a final.