| Vowel | Emmi-Mendhe | English (Standard Australian unless otherwise stated) |
|---|---|---|
| middle i | -pit (clean) | bit |
| end i | endheni (now) | ski |
| u | gumbu (foot) | put |
| ö | mörö (buttock) | word |
| a | mandha (throat/ song) | bat |
| e | derr (native bee; policeman) | bet |
| Consonant | ||
| t | -tit (bend) | tar |
| d | dörr (ground) | hid |
| rt | rtedi (back, on top) | American English “part” |
| th | thawara (mangrove) | Not in English but as in Italian “tu” |
| dh | dherr (cheek) | and this |
| tj | tjelmundak (garfish) | chat |
| dj | djedjet (sit down) | ginger |
| p | pöndör (elbow) | put |
| b | -bet (open) | but |
| k | kuman (he/she pokes) | cut |
| g | gulukguluk (cough) | gut |
| rz | -werzame (shriek) | Dr. Zhivago |
| sj | musjulng (swag) | fusion |
| v | viye (head) | very |
| n | na (he/him) | nut |
| ny | -gurriny (belonging to) | onion |
| m | mana (older brother (M)) | mud |
| ng | ngany (I/me) | sing |
| l | mele (older brother (E)) | holy |
| lh | lhumbu (leg) | stealth |
| rr | -wurri (to speaker) | trilled r as in Scottish “sporran” |
| r | mari (belly) | very |
| y | kaya (s/he lies down) | yes |
| w | wörörör (mudcrab (M)) | wet |