Key Shona sounds, including whistled sibilants and breathy consonants, vowel qualities, and stress patterns for accurate pronunciation. Front: the sound pattern or example word. Back: meaning plus a plain-English pronunciation note.
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- Sv sound
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A whistled fricative made by rounding the lips while pushing air past the teeth. Example word: svika (to arrive).- Zv sound
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The voiced, buzzing counterpart of sv, made the same way but with the vocal cords vibrating. Example word: zvakanaka (good, fine).- Bh sound
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A breathy voiced "b," pronounced with extra airflow, distinct from a plain "b." Example word: bhuku (book).- Dh sound
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A breathy voiced "d," pronounced with extra airflow. Example word: dhorobha (town).- Gh sound
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A breathy voiced "g," rare and found mainly in loanwords. Example word: gharaji (garage).- Vh sound
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A breathy voiced "v," distinct from a plain "v." Example word: vhiki (week).- Ng' sound
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A velar nasal like the "ng" in "singer," never pronounced as the "ng" in "finger." Example word: ng'ombe (cow).- Ny sound
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A palatal nasal like the "ny" in "canyon." Example word: nyama (meat).- Ch sound
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Pronounced like English "ch" in "chair." Example word: chikoro (school).- Dz sound
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A voiced affricate combining "d" and "z." Example word: dzimba (houses).- Ts sound
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A voiceless affricate combining "t" and "s." Example word: tsika (custom).- Vowel a
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Pronounced like the "a" in "father," a pure short vowel.- Vowel e
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Pronounced like the "e" in "bed."- Vowel i
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Pronounced like the "ee" in "see."- Vowel o
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Pronounced like the "o" in "go."
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