The Mkaaʼ Alphabet

This is the alphabetical order used to arrange the Mkaaʼ words in this dictionary:

a b ɓ c d e ə ɛ f g h i j
k l m n ŋ o p r s t u w y

 

Letter Example Gloss
A a mbay corn/maize
B b bwěl tree
Ɓ ɓ ɛɓoŋgá bench
D d dyombá parcel
E e mbê taɓaʼ pipe
Ə ə mənɔ̌n bird
Ɛ ɛ mtɛ́ʼ drum
F f (loanword) fufú fufu
G g ŋgoó pig
H h ɛhón hoe
I i dǐy eye
J i ɛʼjɔ̂b fishhook
K k kém monkey
ʼ ʼ ɛʼnɔ̌n bird
L l ɛlúŋ basket
M m mbwá dog
N n ndáb house
Ŋ ŋ mtúŋ walking stick
NY ny nyǎn fingernail
O o ɛsoʼo basket carried on back
Ɔ ɔ ɛtɔʼ feather
P p páá cutlass/machete
R r ŋgárɛ gun
S s síŋ cat
T t tóʼ spoon
U u kúb cock
W w wɔŋɔɔ mbód sheep
Y y yɔɔ́ mushroom

Note: The letters ɓ and r have a reduced occurance. The letter ɓ occurs especially before vowels except i, u, and ə. The letter r occurs exclusively between vowels in the middle of a root. The letter f occurs only in borrowed words.

Tones

High      ́ mbáy slap
Low un-marked mbay but
High-low      ̂  ɛʼjɔ̂b fish hook
Low-high      ̌ ɛsǐy hair