Back to Letter Index

Note that double consonants may also stand at the beginning of words. Here they are hard for the listener to detect unless preceded by other words, when a distinct pause is noticeable, of syllabic length:
ddala ♫ (indeed), nnyo ♫ (very)
jjajja ♫ (grandfather)
ffe ♫ (we, us), mmwe ♫ (you, plur.), ggwe ♫ (you, sing.)
ssebo ♫ (sir), nnyabo ♫ (madam)
ssaalongo ♫ and nnaalongo ♫ (parents of twins)
ηηenda ♫ (I go)
nnyini ♫ and nnannyini ♫ (owner)

Double vowels are impossible before double consonants :
babba ♫ (they steal or they stole) but NOT baabba