Zaparo phonology is relatively simple, with only four vowels and 15 consonants. Consonant clusters are disallowed, except when they involve [ʔ].[1]
| Bilabial | Dental | Postalveolar | Velar | Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stop | p | t t͡s |
t͡ʃ | k kw~kʷ |
ʔ |
| Fricative | ɸ | s | ʃ | x | h |
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | |
| Approximant | w~β | j | |||
| Flap | ɾ |
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | i | ɨ | u~o |
| Open | a~æ | ɑ~ɒ | ʌ~ɔ |