Puluwatese has two dialects, Pulapese and Pulusukese, both of which have low intelligibility with Satawalese (64%), Woleaian (40%), and Ulithian (21%).

[2] Puluwatese does however have slightly higher lexical similarity with Satawalese and Carolinian (88%), Mortlockese (83%), Woleaian (82%), Chuukese (81%), and Ulithian (72%).

In this case, the "hh" long consonant creates a heavy sound that is used to frighten children.

Some of the most commonly heard forms are as follows:[8] Other consonant interchange patterns involve /c/ and /r/ which can be traced back to Chuukese influence.

The historically noted consonant combinations are as follows:[10] After sounds /pʷ, mʷ/, /a/  may be raised and fronted as [æ], and back vowels may be slightly centered as [ü, ö, ɔ̈].

Vowels may present themselves as short or long and can change to a lower pitch when lengthened.

[15] Subject pronouns never occur as objects and always precede verbs, normally with intervening particles.

[15] The use of polite vocatives are rare in daily life and even rarer in texts.

[11] WuŕumwoWuŕumwoya3Syákékkél-ee-ŕteach-SV-3PL.objyát-e-kkitchild-EV-smallmákk.writingWuŕumwo ya yákékkél-ee-ŕ yát-e-kkit mákk.Wuŕumwo 3S teach-SV-3PL.obj child-EV-small writing'Wuŕumwo taught the children writing.'

Unknown glossing abbreviation(s) (help);Numbers in Puluwatese are confusing because there is such an intricate system of suffixes for counting different objects.

Monday is sometimes referred to as ya-ye-w (1st) and Sunday ya-féh-úw (7th), but more commonly known as, hárin fáál (ending sacredness) and ránini pin (sacred day).