Dioula Alphabet

Q: Which Dioula spelling convention does this page use?

It uses the Ivorian Dioula table published by CNRS LLACAN. The source labels the language as Mande and the country as Côte d’Ivoire . [1] That table contains thirty written units . Do not replace its ny, gb or kp with forms from a different regional spelling guide.

Q: How many entries are in the complete Dioula alphabet?

The selected inventory has thirty written units . Seven are vowel letters and twenty-three are consonant units. [1] The final chart pairs capitals and lowercase forms. A pair such as Aa still represents one entry, and a digraph stays intact.

Q: Is this the Burkina Faso alphabet?

This page follows the Ivorian CNRS table . Its source explicitly includes gb, kp and ny among the written units. [1] Use the chart’s named convention consistently. A different regional guide can select different spellings or count written units differently.

Q: How should I read ɛ, ɔ and ŋ?

Keep ɛ and ɔ distinct from e and o. The hints eh and aw are approximate English comparisons. [1] The letter ŋ represents a nasal sound like ng in sing. Do not add another hard g after it.

Q: Are gb and kp ordinary letter sequences?

In the selected chart, gb and kp are complete consonant units. Their mouth descriptions explain simultaneous closures at the lips and the back of the tongue. [1] Keep both written letters when you copy a unit. The paired overview shows GBgb and KPkp without increasing the alphabet count.

Q: Are Dioula and Jula different languages?

Dioula and Jula are names for the same language in the cited resource. This page shares the Ivorian Jula inventory. [2] Keep the selected regional convention consistent. A different name alone does not create another alphabet or a separate set of letter sounds.

Q: Where do the number words come from?

The words for one to nine come from Moussa Diakité’s Ivorian Dioula dataset. They are reproduced with approximate reading hints. [2] Zero is labelled English because a native form was not verified. This fallback is disclosed rather than presented as a native number word.

Q: Are the pronunciation hints native letter names?

The hints are approximate sound guides . Native letter names were not verified for this selected spelling convention. Use the written chart as the spelling reference. Practise sounds and words with a fluent speaker, especially where the English comparison is only approximate.

Dioula Alphabet at a Glance

30 written units: 7 vowels and 23 consonants form this Ivorian Dioula inventory. ^[1]
CNRS identifies Dioula as a Mande language of Côte d’Ivoire. ^[1]
This convention includes gb, kp and ny as full consonant units.
The complete chart pairs capitals and lowercase forms without doubling the count.
The separate vowels e and ɛ, and o and ɔ, remain distinct.
Number words follow Diakité’s Ivorian dataset, with an explicit English fallback for zero. ^[2]
Sound hints are approximate reading aids rather than verified native letter names.
Dioula and Jula name the same language and share this Ivorian inventory. ^[2]

Uppercase Dioula vowels:

[ah]

[ay]

[eh]

[ee]

[oh]

[aw]

[oo]

[ah]

Sounds like a in father, with the mouth open. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ay]

Keep a steady vowel like the first part of ay in say, without a final glide. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[eh]

Sounds like e in bed. Keep it distinct from the closer vowel e. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ee]

Sounds like ee in see, with the tongue high at the front of the mouth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[oh]

Round the lips for a steady o, like the first part of English go without the glide. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[aw]

Use a more open rounded vowel than o, roughly like aw in saw in many English accents. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[oo]

Sounds like oo in food, with rounded lips. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

Lowercase Dioula vowels:

[ah]

[ay]

[eh]

[ee]

[oh]

[aw]

[oo]

[ah]

Sounds like a in father, with the mouth open. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ay]

Keep a steady vowel like the first part of ay in say, without a final glide. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[eh]

Sounds like e in bed. Keep it distinct from the closer vowel e. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ee]

Sounds like ee in see, with the tongue high at the front of the mouth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[oh]

Round the lips for a steady o, like the first part of English go without the glide. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[aw]

Use a more open rounded vowel than o, roughly like aw in saw in many English accents. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[oo]

Sounds like oo in food, with rounded lips. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

Uppercase Dioula consonants:

[b]

[ch]

[d]

[f]

[g]

[gb]

[h]

[j]

[k]

[kp]

[l]

[m]

[n]

[ny]

[ng]

[p]

[tapped r]

[s]

[t]

[v]

[w]

[y]

[z]

[b]

Sounds like b in book, closing both lips and using the voice. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ch]

Bring the tongue towards the hard palate for a sound roughly like ch in church. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[d]

Sounds like d in day, touching the tongue near the upper teeth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[f]

Sounds like f in fish, passing air between the lower lip and upper teeth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[g]

Sounds like the hard g in get, rather than the g in giant. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[gb]

Close the lips and the back of the tongue together, then release both closures as one voiced sound. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[h]

Sounds like h in hat, with a gentle breath through the open throat. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[j]

Sounds roughly like j in jam, with the tongue raised towards the hard palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[k]

Sounds like k in skin, made by closing the back of the tongue against the soft palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[kp]

Close the lips and the back of the tongue together, then release both closures without voicing. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[l]

Sounds like l in leaf, with air passing around the sides of the tongue. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[m]

Sounds like m in moon, with both lips closed and air flowing through the nose. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[n]

Sounds like n in nose, with the tongue touching behind the upper teeth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ny]

Sounds roughly like ny in canyon, with the tongue raised towards the hard palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ng]

Sounds like ng at the end of sing. Do not add a separate hard g after it. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[p]

Sounds like p in spin, with a brief closure of both lips. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[tapped r]

Tap the tongue briefly near the ridge behind the upper teeth, rather than using a long English r. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[s]

Sounds like s in sun, letting air pass through a narrow groove along the tongue. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[t]

Sounds like t in stop, with the tongue at the upper teeth or the ridge just behind them. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[v]

Sounds like v in voice, with the lower lip near the upper teeth and the voice engaged. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[w]

Sounds like w in wet, briefly rounding the lips before the following vowel. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[y]

Sounds like y in yes. It represents a consonant glide rather than the vowel in English my. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[z]

Sounds like z in zoo, with the voice engaged while air passes along the tongue. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

Lowercase Dioula consonants:

[b]

[ch]

[d]

[f]

[g]

[gb]

[h]

[j]

[k]

[kp]

[l]

[m]

[n]

[ny]

[ng]

[p]

[tapped r]

[s]

[t]

[v]

[w]

[y]

[z]

[b]

Sounds like b in book, closing both lips and using the voice. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ch]

Bring the tongue towards the hard palate for a sound roughly like ch in church. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[d]

Sounds like d in day, touching the tongue near the upper teeth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[f]

Sounds like f in fish, passing air between the lower lip and upper teeth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[g]

Sounds like the hard g in get, rather than the g in giant. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[gb]

Close the lips and the back of the tongue together, then release both closures as one voiced sound. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[h]

Sounds like h in hat, with a gentle breath through the open throat. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[j]

Sounds roughly like j in jam, with the tongue raised towards the hard palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[k]

Sounds like k in skin, made by closing the back of the tongue against the soft palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[kp]

Close the lips and the back of the tongue together, then release both closures without voicing. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[l]

Sounds like l in leaf, with air passing around the sides of the tongue. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[m]

Sounds like m in moon, with both lips closed and air flowing through the nose. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[n]

Sounds like n in nose, with the tongue touching behind the upper teeth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ny]

Sounds roughly like ny in canyon, with the tongue raised towards the hard palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ng]

Sounds like ng at the end of sing. Do not add a separate hard g after it. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[p]

Sounds like p in spin, with a brief closure of both lips. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[tapped r]

Tap the tongue briefly near the ridge behind the upper teeth, rather than using a long English r. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[s]

Sounds like s in sun, letting air pass through a narrow groove along the tongue. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[t]

Sounds like t in stop, with the tongue at the upper teeth or the ridge just behind them. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[v]

Sounds like v in voice, with the lower lip near the upper teeth and the voice engaged. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[w]

Sounds like w in wet, briefly rounding the lips before the following vowel. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[y]

Sounds like y in yes. It represents a consonant glide rather than the vowel in English my. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[z]

Sounds like z in zoo, with the voice engaged while air passes along the tongue. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[eh]

[aw]

[gb]

[kp]

[ny]

[ng]

[eh]

Sounds like e in bed. Keep it distinct from the closer vowel e. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[aw]

Use a more open rounded vowel than o, roughly like aw in saw in many English accents. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[gb]

Close the lips and the back of the tongue together, then release both closures as one voiced sound. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[kp]

Close the lips and the back of the tongue together, then release both closures without voicing. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ny]

Sounds roughly like ny in canyon, with the tongue raised towards the hard palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ng]

Sounds like ng at the end of sing. Do not add a separate hard g after it. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[zero]

[keh-len]

[fee-lah]

[sah-bah]

[naa-nee]

[loo-roo]

[waw-ro]

[woh-lon-fee-lah]

[seh-gin]

[kaw-nawn-tawn]

[zero]

The English word zero is an explicit fallback because a native zero form was not verified.

[keh-len]

The documented Dioula word for 1. The pronunciation hint is approximate.

[fee-lah]

The documented Dioula word for 2. The pronunciation hint is approximate.

[sah-bah]

The documented Dioula word for 3. The pronunciation hint is approximate.

[naa-nee]

The documented Dioula word for 4. The pronunciation hint is approximate.

[loo-roo]

The documented Dioula word for 5. The pronunciation hint is approximate.

[waw-ro]

The documented Dioula word for 6. The pronunciation hint is approximate.

[woh-lon-fee-lah]

The documented Dioula word for 7. The pronunciation hint is approximate.

[seh-gin]

The documented Dioula word for 8. The pronunciation hint is approximate.

[kaw-nawn-tawn]

The documented Dioula word for 9. The pronunciation hint is approximate.

[ah]

[b]

[ch]

[d]

[ay]

Ɛɛ

[eh]

[f]

[g]

GBgb

[gb]

[h]

[ee]

[j]

[k]

KPkp

[kp]

[l]

[m]

[n]

NYny

[ny]

Ŋŋ

[ng]

[oh]

Ɔɔ

[aw]

[p]

[tapped r]

[s]

[t]

[oo]

[v]

[w]

[y]

[z]

[ah]

Sounds like a in father, with the mouth open. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[b]

Sounds like b in book, closing both lips and using the voice. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ch]

Bring the tongue towards the hard palate for a sound roughly like ch in church. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[d]

Sounds like d in day, touching the tongue near the upper teeth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ay]

Keep a steady vowel like the first part of ay in say, without a final glide. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

Ɛɛ

[eh]

Sounds like e in bed. Keep it distinct from the closer vowel e. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[f]

Sounds like f in fish, passing air between the lower lip and upper teeth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[g]

Sounds like the hard g in get, rather than the g in giant. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

GBgb

[gb]

Close the lips and the back of the tongue together, then release both closures as one voiced sound. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[h]

Sounds like h in hat, with a gentle breath through the open throat. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[ee]

Sounds like ee in see, with the tongue high at the front of the mouth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[j]

Sounds roughly like j in jam, with the tongue raised towards the hard palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[k]

Sounds like k in skin, made by closing the back of the tongue against the soft palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

KPkp

[kp]

Close the lips and the back of the tongue together, then release both closures without voicing. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[l]

Sounds like l in leaf, with air passing around the sides of the tongue. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[m]

Sounds like m in moon, with both lips closed and air flowing through the nose. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[n]

Sounds like n in nose, with the tongue touching behind the upper teeth. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

NYny

[ny]

Sounds roughly like ny in canyon, with the tongue raised towards the hard palate. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

Ŋŋ

[ng]

Sounds like ng at the end of sing. Do not add a separate hard g after it. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[oh]

Round the lips for a steady o, like the first part of English go without the glide. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

Ɔɔ

[aw]

Use a more open rounded vowel than o, roughly like aw in saw in many English accents. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[p]

Sounds like p in spin, with a brief closure of both lips. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[tapped r]

Tap the tongue briefly near the ridge behind the upper teeth, rather than using a long English r. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[s]

Sounds like s in sun, letting air pass through a narrow groove along the tongue. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[t]

Sounds like t in stop, with the tongue at the upper teeth or the ridge just behind them. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[oo]

Sounds like oo in food, with rounded lips. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[v]

Sounds like v in voice, with the lower lip near the upper teeth and the voice engaged. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[w]

Sounds like w in wet, briefly rounding the lips before the following vowel. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[y]

Sounds like y in yes. It represents a consonant glide rather than the vowel in English my. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

[z]

Sounds like z in zoo, with the voice engaged while air passes along the tongue. This is an approximate sound guide, not a verified native letter name.

Expand All Collapse All

Which Dioula spelling convention does this page use?

How many entries are in the complete Dioula alphabet?

Is this the Burkina Faso alphabet?

How should I read ɛ, ɔ and ŋ?

Are gb and kp ordinary letter sequences?

Are Dioula and Jula different languages?

Where do the number words come from?

Are the pronunciation hints native letter names?

References:

[1] CNRS LLACAN. Système alphabétique de la langue dioula. Côte d’Ivoire inventory and sound correspondences, C. Chanard (2006). Retrieved from Ivorian Dioula alphabet table.
[2] Moussa Diakité, SIL Côte d’Ivoire (2006). Jula numerals, in Eugene Chan’s Numeral Systems of the World’s Languages. Use the Ivorian dataset, not the separate Burkina Faso list. Retrieved from Researcher-supplied Jula numbers.