Reference Grammar
Section 2.1.1: Consonants
Each character (with some exceptions) has an isolated form, and initial, medial, and final forms. Those that don't have a medial form will break the flow of a word.
| Letter | Name of Letter IPA & transcription | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Consonants | ||
 | dù dog, dentist | |
 | kè cat, car | |
 | tè taco, toad | |
 | mù marker, harm | |
 | fè fork, flag | |
 | jò as "y" in young, yes | |
 | lago love, stall | |
 | ra rolled "r" as in Spanish or Arabic | |
 | ga go, goldfish | |
 | thàmò voiceless "th" as in thing, thought | |
 | va voice, vibration | |
 | wa now, west | |
 | zama zone, lizard | |
 | sho shoe, wash | |
 | khama as in Scottish loch or German J. S. Bach | |
 | qofo like "k", but further back in the throat, as in Arabic | |
 | bu boy, morbid | |
 | neng or  syllable initial: nose, fine | syllable/word final: as any English word ending in "ing" |
 | tsavû cat soup (say it quickly), plants | |
 | sù| sausage, spam | |
 | porê pasta, stop | |
 | xi as in German ich, lustig | |
 | ìdzamo| dudes, red xylophone (say it fast) | |
 | che| watch, chomp | |
 | zhola Elijah, French je | |
 | hada hello, house | |
 | ìdjamo| budge, knowledge | |
 | dhè voiced "th" as in the, that | |
 | dha wamagò as in the syllable break in the exclamation "uh-oh" | |
| Carrier Vowels | ||
 | ikada feet, seat, repeat | |
 | ème bet, America | |
 | ûkêdi but, cut, monkey | |
 | ûkêdi noljè the, what | |
 | òmò dog, lock | |