Apart from the above-mentioned retroflex consonants, the
phonology of Sheko is characterized by a total 28 consonant phonemes, five long vowels and six short vowels, plus four phonemic tone levels.
Consonants Hellenthal (2010, p. 45) lists the following consonant phonemes of Sheko: Unlike other Dizoid languages, Sheko has no contrast between and . Consonants are rarely geminated, and there is a
syllabic nasal .
Vowels Hellenthal (2010, p. 56) lists the following long and short vowels of Sheko: , , , , , , , , , .
Tones Sheko is one of very few languages in Africa that have four distinct
phonemic tone levels. Tone distinguishes meaning both in the lexicon and in the grammar, particularly to distinguish persons in the pronominal system. == Grammar ==