Smallest Phoneme Inventories
Median 36
Average 37.6
Range 11–141
1
ROTOKAS
11
North Bougainville ·Papunesia
2
PIRAHA
11
Language isolate ·South America
3
RORO
14
Austronesian ·Papunesia
4
EKARI
15
Nuclear Trans New Guinea ·Papunesia
5
GUGU-YALANDYI
16
Pama-Nyungan ·Australia
6
DYIRBAL
16
Pama-Nyungan ·Australia
7
KOIARI
16
Koiarian ·Papunesia
8
IWAM
17
Sepik ·Papunesia
9
MARANAO
17
Austronesian ·Papunesia
10
CHEROKEE
17
Iroquoian ·North America
11
Ainu
17
Ainu ·Eurasia
12
Sentani
17
Sentanic ·Papunesia
13
CHUAVE
17
Nuclear Trans New Guinea ·Papunesia
14
DERA
17
Senagi ·Papunesia
15
Tongan; Tonga
17
Austronesian ·Papunesia
16
NIMBORAN
18
Nimboranic ·Papunesia
17
Nasioi
18
South Bougainville ·Papunesia
18
Gadsup
19
Nuclear Trans New Guinea ·Papunesia
19
Asmat
19
Nuclear Trans New Guinea ·Papunesia
20
SOUTHERN KIWAI
19
Kiwaian ·Papunesia
21
MALAKMALAK
19
Northern Daly ·Australia
22
TETUN
19
Austronesian ·Papunesia
23
MOR
19
Language isolate ·Papunesia
24
IRARUTU
19
Austronesian ·Papunesia
25
Hawaiian
19
Austronesian ·Papunesia
26
Bundjalung
20
Pama-Nyungan ·Australia
27
Kunimaipa
20
Kunimaipan ·Papunesia
28
MAXAKALI
20
Nuclear-Macro-Je ·South America
29
NAHUATL
20
Uto-Aztecan ·North America
30
Maori
20
Austronesian ·Papunesia
31
EFIK
20
Atlantic-Congo ·Africa
32
KEWA
20
Nuclear Trans New Guinea ·Papunesia
33
AMELE
20
Nuclear Trans New Guinea ·Papunesia
34
POHNPEIAN
20
Austronesian ·Papunesia
35
Auyana
20
Nuclear Trans New Guinea ·Papunesia
36
SIERRA MIWOK
21
Miwok-Costanoan ·North America
37
Alabama
21
Muskogean ·North America
38
KORYAK
21
Chukotko-Kamchatkan ·Eurasia
39
SHASTA
21
Shastan ·North America
40
Cebuano
21
Austronesian ·Papunesia
41
Selepet
21
Nuclear Trans New Guinea ·Papunesia
42
KWAIO
21
Austronesian ·Papunesia
43
ANGAATIHA
21
Angan ·Papunesia
44
BODO
21
Sino-Tibetan ·Eurasia
45
FASU
21
Language isolate ·Papunesia
46
Chacobo
21
Pano-Tacanan ·South America
47
Oneida
22
Iroquoian ·North America
48
GARAWA
22
Garrwan ·Australia
49
Chukchi
22
Chukotko-Kamchatkan ·Eurasia
50
Kapampangan
22
Austronesian ·Papunesia