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 |