The following tables show the IPA representations of Swahili pronunciation.
Vowels | ||
---|---|---|
IPA | Examples | English approximation |
ɑ | baba IPA(key): 'father' | father |
ɛ | ndege IPA(key): 'bird' | let |
i | Kiswahili IPA(key): 'Swahili (language)' | meat |
ɔ | mtoto IPA(key): 'child' | off |
u | uhuru IPA(key): 'freedom' | fool |
ː | kondoo IPA(key): 'sheep' | vowel length |
Suprasegmentals | ||
---|---|---|
IPA | Examples | Explanation |
ˈ | safari IPA(key): 'journey' | stress[1] |
Consonants | ||
---|---|---|
IPA | Examples | English approximation |
ɓ | baba IPA(key): 'father' | bill |
ɗ | dola IPA(key): 'dollar' | delta |
ð | dhambi IPA(key): 'sin, offence'[2] | that |
ʄ ~ dʒ | maji IPA(key): 'water' | jab |
f | fisi IPA(key): 'hyena' | focus |
ɠ | gani IPA(key): 'what, of which' | gag |
ɣ | ghali IPA(key): 'expensive'[2] | Scottish loch but voiced |
h | uhuru IPA(key): 'freedom' | ahead |
j | yeye IPA(key): 'he/she' | yellow |
k | kitabu IPA(key): 'book' | scald |
l | lakini IPA(key): 'but'[3] | lack |
m | damu IPA(key): 'blood' | mocha |
m̩ | mtoto IPA(key): 'child' | rhythm |
ᵐb | mbali IPA(key): 'far' | clamber |
ᶬv | mvinyo IPA(key): 'spirits' | Humvee |
n | nini IPA(key): 'what' | ninny |
n̩ | nchi IPA(key): 'country' | even (syllabic nasal) |
ⁿd | muhindi IPA(key): 'corn, maize' | handy |
ᵑɡ | ngoma IPA(key): 'drum' | finger |
ⁿdʒ | injili IPA(key): 'gospel' | range |
ⁿz | kwanza IPA(key): 'to begin' | pansy |
ɲ | nyoka IPA(key): 'snake' | canyon |
ŋ | ng'ombe IPA(key): 'cow, ox' | sing |
p | kikapu IPA(key): 'basket' | spill |
ɾ | rafiki IPA(key): 'friend'[3] | robot |
s | sisi IPA(key): 'we' | stole |
ʃ | shamba IPA(key): 'farm, field' | shell |
t | moto IPA(key): 'fire' | stand |
tʃ | chumba IPA(key): 'room' | chase |
θ | thelathini IPA(key): 'thirty'[2] | think |
v | vitabu IPA(key): 'books' | vittle |
w | watu IPA(key): 'people' | with |
x | subulkheri IPA(key): 'good morning'[2] | Scottish loch |
z | maziwa IPA(key): 'milk' | zoo |