How many consonants and vowels do most Austronesian languages have?

Most Austronesian languages typically feature between 16 and 22 consonants and 4 or 5 vowels.1

While these ranges represent the general norm, there is significant variation across the family:

• Consonants: Some Polynesian languages possess exceptionally small consonant inventories, such as Hawaiian, which uses only eight. Conversely, languages in the Loyalty Islands are noted for having exceptionally large consonant inventories.1
• Vowels: Vowel systems are generally simple. Many languages in Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia utilize a four-vowel system (i, u, a, and an indistinct mid-central vowel e), while the majority of Oceanic languages employ a five-vowel system (i, u, e, o, and a). Larger vowel systems appear in some Micronesian languages, certain Melanesian languages, and a few Chamic languages.1