Alphabet
q,v,x not in alphabet and only used for foreign words.
8 letters have alternatives (z has 2 alternatives)

Spelling, vowels in base words often change when the suffix changes.

Pronunciation highlights
Syllables and stress:  Generally divide after a vowel with stress in 2nd-to-last
  -yka words take stress on preceding syllable.
  Past-tense endings -yśmy/-iśmy, -yście/-iścue oreserve stress,
Generally the alternates are slight variations on the bases.
Voiced consonant in final position OR with voiceless consonant are also pronounced as unvoiced alt.
    $ here meaning end of word or before a voiceless consonant
    b$ -> p$
    d$ -> t$
    dz$ -> ts$
    dź$ -> tch$
    dż$ -> ch$
    g$ -> k$
    w$ -> f$
    z$ -> s$
    ż$,rz$ -> sh$
    ONLY at end:  ę$ -> eh$
DIFFICULT SUBTLE ONES:  ą, ę, y
ą  DISTINCIVE bending, nasal owe.  ohm before b,p; ohn before d,t
c = ts
ch = h (hardish) == h
czg= tch (mostly t)
ć = tch
ci- = tch + Ē
dzi- = j + Ē
dź = j
dż == d ???
ę = bending, nasal ew .  ehm before b,p; ehn before d,t; eh at end of word$
h  hardish, rare == ch
i = Ē but different variants after consonants:
    -i (after consonant) is either Ē or y  *EXCEPT* si- and zi- are unique (see below)
        bi-,ci-,dzi- = E       gi-,ki-,mi-,ni-,pi- = y
j = y (German j)
ł = w
ń = ny (Spanish n~)
o = short Ō
ó = toot's "oo" == u
r = trilled
rz = zh == ż,ź
si- = sh + Ē
sz,ś = sh
u = toot's "oo" == ó
w = v (German w)
y  DISTINCTIVE ih-like
zi- = zh + Ē
ż,ź = zh == rz