| bilabial | alveolar | palatal | velar | glottal | |
| stop | b, p, pʰ | d, t, tʰ | ɟ, c | k, kʰ | |
| tap | ɾ | ||||
| fricative | β | s | h | ||
| nasal | m | n | ŋ | ||
| lateral approximant | l |
| front | central | back | |
| close | i | u | |
| close-mid | e | o | |
| open-mid | ɛ | ɔ | |
| open | a |
/ai/, /oi/, /ui/
11, 33ʔ, 55
{p,pʰ,k,kʰ}{l,r}
p, t, k, m, n, ŋ, ɾ
C(C)V(C)
Source: Konnerth, Linda. 2014. A Grammar of Karbi. PhD thesis. University of Oregon.
Comments: /ɛ/ and /ɔ/ are marginal and occur only in a handful of morphemes. Additionally, a marginal segment /oʷ/ is posited. Vowel-initial syllables acquire a non-phonemic initial glottal stop. Diphthongs only occur in open syllables. The low tone corresponds to the average speaking pitch. The functional load of tone is low.
Contributed by: Dmitry Nikolaev (dnikolaev@fastmail.com)