Gilbertese phonology

Kiribati has 10 consonants and 10 vowels (five short, five long)
 * 1) is lenited and assibilated to  before
 * 2) The labiovelar fricative may be a flap and an approximant, depending on the context.
 * 3) does not occur in the syllable coda


 * 1) Short and  may become semivowels when followed by more sonorous vowels.   →  ('sail'). Kiribati has syllabic nasals, although syllabic  and  can be followed only by consonants that are homorganic.

Quantity is distinctive for vowels and nasal consonants but not for the remaining sounds so that ana (third person singular article) contrasts with aana ('its underside') as well as anna ('dry land'). Other minimal pairs include: