Decoding the letter Q

The letter Q, lowercase q (pronounced /kjuː/) very reliably represents IPA phoneme /k/. It is normally followed by u and "qu" sounds /kw/. For examples see IPA phoneme /k/.

When "qu" does not sound /kw/ (silent u):
 * antique /ænˈtiːk/ - bouquet /buːˈkeɪ/ - cheque - conquer - etiquette - liquor - mosquito /məˈskiːtəʊ/ - quay /kiː/ - queue /kjuː/ - quiche /kiːʃ/ - technique /tekˈniːk/ - tequila /təˈkiːlə/ - unique /juːˈniːk/

Homophones:
 * - check; quay - key; queue - cue;

Q not before U
 * Iraq /ɪˈrɑːk, ɪˈræk/ - Iraqi
 * Qantas /ˈkwɒntəs/
 * Qatar /ˈkʌtɑːr,, ˈkætɑːr, ˈkɑːtɑːr, kəˈtɑːr/ - Qatari