The 10 Kîmîîrû Vowels — Expert Gem
Master the core and extended vowel sounds of the Kîmîîrû language with clear pronunciation guides, example words, and interactive audio practice.
| Vowel | Example Word | IPA Sound | English Sound | Description | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | bana | /ə/ | Schwa “uh” as in banana | Very soft, neutral vowel sound | |
| e | rete | /ɛ/ | Short “e” as in bed | Clear, short “e” sound | |
| i | bia | /ɪ/ | Short “i” as in bin | Short, relaxed “i” sound | |
| o | thoko | /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ | Short “o” as in octopus | Open “o” sound, varies between short and broad | |
| u | muntû | /ʊ/ | Irregular “oo” as in cook | Rounded, short “oo” sound | |
| â | kâ | /ɑː/ | Broad “ah” as in car | Long, open “ah” sound | |
| ê | bêtîrê | /ɛ/ (irreg.) | Short “e” as in bread | Short “e” with irregular spelling | |
| Î | mîtî | /eɪ/ | Long “a” as in mate | Diphthong glide from “eh” to “ee” | |
| ô | monô | /ɔː/ | Broad “aw” as in order | Long back rounded vowel | |
| û | rûma | /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ | Long “o” as in note | Diphthong glide from “o” to “oo” |
Interactive Practice Lab
Click the play button to hear a vowel example, then select the correct vowel letter from the choices below.
Listen to the example word and select the correct vowel letter. Use the buttons below to navigate through the vowels.
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