From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
The following tables show the IPA representations of Swahili pronunciation.
| Vowels
|
| IPA |
Examples |
English approximation
|
| ɑ
|
baba IPA(key): [ˈɓɑɓɑ] 'father'
|
father
|
| ɛ
|
ndege IPA(key): [ˈⁿdɛɠɛ] 'bird'
|
let
|
| i
|
Kiswahili IPA(key): [kiswɑˈhili] 'Swahili (language)'
|
meat
|
| ɔ
|
mtoto IPA(key): [m̩ˈtɔtɔ] 'child'
|
off
|
| u
|
uhuru IPA(key): [uˈhuɾu] 'freedom'
|
fool
|
| ː
|
kondoo IPA(key): [kɔˈⁿdɔː] 'sheep'
|
vowel length
|
| Consonants
|
| IPA |
Examples |
English approximation
|
| ɓ
|
baba IPA(key): [ˈɓɑɓɑ] 'father'
|
bill
|
| ɗ
|
dola IPA(key): [ˈɗɔlɑ] 'dollar'
|
delta
|
| ð
|
dhambi IPA(key): [ˈðɑᵐbi] 'sin, offence'[2]
|
that
|
| ʄ ~ dʒ
|
maji IPA(key): [ˈmɑʄi ~ ˈmɑdʒi] 'water'
|
jab
|
| f
|
fisi IPA(key): [ˈfisi] 'hyena'
|
focus
|
| ɠ
|
gani IPA(key): [ˈɠɑni] 'what, of which'
|
gag
|
| ɣ
|
ghali IPA(key): [ˈɣɑli] 'expensive'[2]
|
Scottish loch but voiced
|
| h
|
uhuru IPA(key): [uˈhuɾu] 'freedom'
|
ahead
|
| j
|
yeye IPA(key): [ˈjɛjɛ] 'he/she'
|
yellow
|
| k
|
kitabu IPA(key): [kiˈtɑbu] 'book'
|
scald
|
| l
|
lakini IPA(key): [lɑˈkini] 'but'[3]
|
lack
|
| m
|
damu IPA(key): [ˈɗɑmu] 'blood'
|
mocha
|
| m̩
|
mtoto IPA(key): [m̩ˈtɔtɔ] 'child'
|
rhythm
|
| ᵐb
|
mbali IPA(key): [ˈᵐbɑli] 'far'
|
clamber
|
| ᶬv
|
mvinyo IPA(key): [ˈᶬviɲɔ] 'spirits'
|
Humvee
|
| n
|
nini IPA(key): [ˈnini] 'what'
|
ninny
|
| n̩
|
nchi IPA(key): [ˈn̩tʃi] 'country'
|
even (syllabic nasal)
|
| ⁿd
|
muhindi IPA(key): [muˈhiⁿdi] 'corn, maize'
|
handy
|
| ᵑɡ
|
ngoma IPA(key): [ˈᵑɡɔmɑ] 'drum'
|
finger
|
| ⁿdʒ
|
injili IPA(key): [iˈⁿdʒili] 'gospel'
|
range
|
| ⁿz
|
kwanza IPA(key): [ˈkwɑⁿzɑ] 'to begin'
|
pansy
|
| ɲ
|
nyoka IPA(key): [ˈɲɔkɑ] 'snake'
|
canyon
|
| ŋ
|
ng'ombe IPA(key): [ˈŋɔᵐbɛ] 'cow, ox'
|
sing
|
| p
|
kikapu IPA(key): [kiˈkɑpu] 'basket'
|
spill
|
| ɾ
|
rafiki IPA(key): [ɾɑˈfiki] 'friend'[3]
|
robot
|
| s
|
sisi IPA(key): [ˈsisi] 'we'
|
stole
|
| ʃ
|
shamba IPA(key): [ˈʃɑᵐbɑ] 'farm, field'
|
shell
|
| t
|
moto IPA(key): [ˈmɔtɔ] 'fire'
|
stand
|
| tʃ
|
chumba IPA(key): [ˈtʃuᵐbɑ] 'room'
|
chase
|
| θ
|
thelathini IPA(key): [θɛlɑˈθini] 'thirty'[2]
|
think
|
| v
|
vitabu IPA(key): [viˈtɑbu] 'books'
|
vittle
|
| w
|
watu IPA(key): [ˈwɑtu] 'people'
|
with
|
| x
|
subulkheri IPA(key): [suɓulˈxɛɾi] 'good morning'[2]
|
Scottish loch
|
| z
|
maziwa IPA(key): [mɑˈziwɑ] 'milk'
|
zoo
|
