Key Igbo vowels, consonants, and tone patterns for accurate pronunciation. Front: the sound pattern or example word. Back: meaning plus a plain-English pronunciation note.
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- A
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Pronounced like "a" in "father."- E
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Pronounced like "e" in "they," without a glide, a close-mid vowel.- I
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Pronounced like "ee" in "see."- Ị
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An open vowel similar to the "i" in "sit," written with a dot under the letter, distinct from "i."- O
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Pronounced like "o" in "go," without a glide, a close-mid vowel.- Ọ
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An open vowel similar to "aw" in "law," written with a dot under the letter, distinct from "o."- U
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Pronounced like "oo" in "food."- Ụ
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An open vowel similar to the "u" in "put," written with a dot under the letter, distinct from "u."- Gb sound
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A single co-articulated consonant made by closing the lips and the back of the tongue together. Example word: gbaa ọsọ (to run).- Gh sound
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A voiced fricative made in the back of the throat, softer than a hard "g." Example word: aghọta (to understand).- Kp sound
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A single co-articulated consonant made with the lips and the back of the tongue together, the voiceless counterpart of "gb." Example word: akpụ (cassava).- Nw sound
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A labialized nasal, pronounced with rounded lips. Example word: nwa (child).- Ny sound
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Like the "ny" in "canyon," a single soft nasal sound. Example word: anyị (we).- High tone
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Pronounced with a raised, higher pitch relative to surrounding syllables.- Low tone
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Pronounced with a lowered, falling pitch relative to surrounding syllables.
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