| Marshallese consonants
|
| IPA
|
Examples
|
English approximations
|
Notes
|
| Allophonesof/j/
|
| ɛ̯
|
|
yarn
|
|
| e̯
|
|
yes
|
|
| i̯
|
|
you
|
|
| Allophones of /k/
|
| k
|
|
cork
|
Implicitly velarized ([kˠ]).
|
| ɡ
|
Pikinni
|
gargle
|
Between vowels. Implicitly velarized ([ɡˠ]).
|
| Allophones of /kʷ/
|
| kʷ
|
Kuwajleen
|
kook
|
|
| ɡʷ
|
|
google
|
Between vowels.
|
| kw
|
Kwaron̄
|
quilt
|
Simplified IPA for [kʷ(w)].
|
| ɡw
|
O̧kwōj
|
guano
|
Between vowels. Simplified IPA for [ɡʷ(w)].
|
| Allophones of /mˠ/
|
| mˠ
|
M̧ajeļ
|
marmalade
|
|
| mw
|
M̧weeņļap
|
gym wear
|
Simplified IPA for [mˠ(β̞ˠ)].
|
| Allophones of /ŋʷ/
|
| ŋʷ
|
Ron̄ļap
|
wrong way
|
|
| ŋw
|
Ron̄ļap
|
wrong way |
Simplified IPA for [ŋʷ(w)].
|
| Allophones of /pʲ/
|
| pʲ
|
Pikinni
|
peep
|
|
| bʲ
|
Epjā
|
bib
|
between vowels
|
| Allophones of /pˠ/
|
| pˠ
|
Bokaak, bwil
|
purpose
|
|
| bˠ
|
|
barber
|
between vowels
|
| pw
|
Bokaak, bwil
|
sleepwear
|
Simplified IPA for [pˠ(β̞ˠ)].
|
| bw
|
Bokaak, bwil
|
subway
|
Between vowels. Simplified IPA for [bˠ(β̞ˠ)].
|
| Allophones of /tʲ/
|
| tʲ
|
jouj
|
meet you, church, bless you, shush
|
|
| zʲ
|
|
his yarn, pleasure, good year, judge
|
Between vowels.
|
| Allophones of /tˠ/
|
| tˠ
|
Ruot
|
taught
|
|
| dˠ
|
wōtōm
|
dud
|
Between vowels.
|
| Other single consonants
|
| lʲ
|
Kōle
|
leave (RP)
|
|
| lˠ
|
M̧aļoeļap
|
bill
|
Dark L ([ɫ]).
|
| lʷ
|
Jabtoļon̄e, Lo̧ļwe
|
Galway, well wisher
|
Rounded dark L ([ɫʷ]).
|
| mʲ
|
Mile
|
meme
|
|
| nʲ
|
Epoon
|
ninny
|
|
| nˠ
|
Arņo
|
none
|
|
| nʷ
|
|
onward
|
|
| ŋ
|
aelōn̄
|
sung
|
Implicitly velarized ([ŋˠ]).
|
| rʲ
|
Amedka
|
No English equivalent
|
Trilled behind the front teeth, similar to Hungarian r.
|
| rˠ
|
Pikaar
|
rat
|
Trilled, without lip rounding.
|
| rʷ
|
Jo̧rwe, Nim̧ur
|
roof
|
Trilled, with lip rounding.
|
| w
|
|
weed
|
|
|
| Marshallese vowels
|
| IPA
|
Example
|
English approximations
|
Notes
|
| Allophonesof/æ/
|
| æ
|
jān
|
trap
|
Palatalized.
|
| ɑ
|
kab
|
palm
|
Velarized.
|
| ɒ
|
|
lot (RP), thought (GA)
|
Rounded.
|
| æ͜ɑ, æ͜ɒ, ɑ͜æ, ɑ͜ɒ, ɒ͜æ, ɒ͜ɑ
|
Short diphthongs.
|
| Allophones of /ɛ/
|
| ɛ
|
|
dress
|
Palatalized.
|
| ʌ
|
|
nurse (RP), comma (GA)
|
Velarized.
|
| ɔ
|
|
thought (RP), goat (GA)
|
Rounded.
|
| ɛ͜ʌ, ɛ͜ɔ, ʌ͜ɛ, ʌ͜ɔ, ɔ͜ɛ, ɔ͜ʌ
|
Short diphthongs.
|
| Allophones of /e/
|
| e
|
|
kit
|
Palatalized.
|
| ɤ
|
|
like foot but without rounded lips
|
Velarized.
|
| o
|
|
foot
|
Rounded.
|
| e͜ɤ, e͜o, ɤ͜e, ɤ͜o, o͜e, o͜ɤ
|
Short diphthongs.
|
| Allophones of /i/
|
| i
|
|
fleece
|
Palatalized.
|
| ɯ
|
|
like goose but without rounded lips
|
Velarized.
|
| u
|
|
goose
|
Rounded.
|
| i͜ɯ, i͜u, ɯ͜i, ɯ͜u, u͜i, u͜ɯ
|
Short diphthongs.
|
|
