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
- Pronounced like "a" in "father."
- E
- Pronounced like "e" in "they," without a glide, a close-mid vowel.
- I
- Pronounced like "ee" in "see."
- Ị
- An open vowel similar to the "i" in "sit," written with a dot under the letter, distinct from "i."
- O
- Pronounced like "o" in "go," without a glide, a close-mid vowel.
- Ọ
- An open vowel similar to "aw" in "law," written with a dot under the letter, distinct from "o."
- U
- Pronounced like "oo" in "food."
- Ụ
- An open vowel similar to the "u" in "put," written with a dot under the letter, distinct from "u."
- Gb sound
- 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
- A voiced fricative made in the back of the throat, softer than a hard "g." Example word: aghọta (to understand).
- Kp sound
- 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
- A labialized nasal, pronounced with rounded lips. Example word: nwa (child).
- Ny sound
- Like the "ny" in "canyon," a single soft nasal sound. Example word: anyị (we).
- High tone
- Pronounced with a raised, higher pitch relative to surrounding syllables.
- Low tone
- Pronounced with a lowered, falling pitch relative to surrounding syllables.
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