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