Inuktitut has a minimal vowel system containing three vowels /i/, /a/, and /u/. /i/ represents the most frontal of high vowels; /u/ represents the furthest back of high vowels; /a/ represents the lowest of the vowels. They create the maximal contrastive oppositions in acoustics.
Within a word, these three vowels can appear in single, double, or combined distribution. However, the phonological system of Inuktitut does not allow a sequence of more than two vowels. Likewise, vowels do not form a true diphthong as they belong to different syllables. Each vowel in a combined distribution is pronounced distinctively without hiatus.
Single vowels
nanuq (polar bear)
tuktu (deer)
Double vowels
kiinaq (face)
kuuk (river)
Combined vowels
niaquq (head)
siuti (ear)
¡@
The following is a brief guide to Inuit vowel pronunciation, using non-technical terms.
| Vowel | Pronunciation | As in |
| "i" | "ee" or "ey" | fee or key |
| "u" | "oo" or "ew" | too or new |
| "a" | "a" | man |
| "ai" | "i" | bike |
| "au" | "ow" | now |
| "ua" | "wha" | what |
| "iu" | "ee-oo" | me-oo |
¡@
Inuktitut includes 14 consonants: /p/, /t/, /k/, /q/, /g/, /r/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /v/, /s/, /l/, /ł/ ,and /j/. These consonants can be single or double (the double /ŋ/ is represented by ¡Vnng-).
Simple consonants
tupiq (tent)
nutaraq (child)
Double consonants
annurraaq (garment)
sanngijuq (he is strong)