The Ibaraki dialect (Shinjitai: 茨城弁, Kyujitai: 茨城辯 Ibaraki-ben) is a Japanese dialect spoken in Ibaraki Prefecture. Ibaraki-ben is characterized by "dakuten" insertion, affecting a voiced syllable. For example, byōki (病気 illness) becomes something like "byōgi". By contraries, "g" sometimes becomes "k" and "b" sometimes becomes "p". For example, "yugata"(夕方 evening) is pronunciated as "yukada" and "zabuton"(座布団cushion) is pronunciated as "zapton" by some speakers. Another characteristic of the dialect in many areas is a decreased distinction between "i" and "e" sounds, so that iro enpitsu (色鉛筆 colored pencil) becomes ero inpitsu among many speakers.