IPA Phonetics
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is an alphabetic system of phonetic notation based
primarily on the Latin alphabet.
Letter[6]
Speech Sound[44]
Consonants sound[24] Vowels sound[20]-Voiced
Voiced Sound[15] Unvoiced Sound[9] Pure Vowel(monophthongs)[12] Diphthongs-[8]
Short Vowels[7] Long Vowels[5]
Monophongs(Vowel) and Diphthongs(Vowel)
a. A monophthong(Single Vowel Sound) is a pure vowel sound, one whose articulation at both
beginning and end is relatively fixed, and which does not glide up or down towards a new
position of articulation.
b. A Diphthong(Double Vowel Sound) also known as a gliding vowel, is a combination of two
adjacent vowel sounds within the same syllable. Technically, a diphthong is a vowel with
two different targets: that is, the tongue moves during the pronunciation of the vowel.
A sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound
begins as one vowel and moves towards another (as in coin, loud, and side ).
A digraph representing the sound of a diphthong or single vowel (as in feat ).
A compound vowel character; a ligature (such as æ ).
Voiced Sound or Unvoiced sound
All vowels are voiced.
All diphthongs are voiced.
Consonants can be either voiced or unvoiced.
Voiced -(15)>During the Articulation vocal cord vibrate.
Voiceless Sound(9)->During the Articulation vocal cord do not Vibrate.
Unvoiced consonants are made just with air, no, uhh, sound from the vocal cords.
iː [ई ] ɪ[ इ ]Ship , ʊ [ उ ]Book, uː[ऊ ] moon, ɪə[इय ] ear, eɪ [ एई ]say Phonemic Vowel
Sheep,feed, busy, started good put grew,throug here,career Train,plane,w
Eagle field should h ait Chart Short vowel
e[ए ] bed, Ə[अ ]about, ɜː[ ] bird, ɔː[ औ ] ʊə [उअ ] ɔɪ[ [ऑय ]oil əʊ [ओ]Coat Long vowel
dead,said,left
Police,,teach hurt,work,her door, sure, Boy,point,,coi ,Low,note,sh Diphthongs
er walk,saw your,tourist n ow Consonants
æ [ऐ ]apple, ʌ[अ ]up,mon ɑː [आ] car, ɒ [ऑ] what, eə [ए अ ] aɪ[आई ] by, aʊ [आउ ] Voiced
cat,hat ey,cut bath,safari because,on hair,careful high,fine,like Now,our unvoiced
p[प ]hopping b [ब ] hobby t [ट ] table, d[ड ] dog, ʧ[च ] picture, ʤ[ज ] jam, k[क ]key,car g[ग ] hug,
,jump,pea ,herb,boat little,watched added,playe cheese,itch danger,fudge ,luck league,go
d
f [फ़ ] free, v[व ] video, θ[थ ] healthy ð [द ] with, s[स ]see,city, z[ज ] zoo, ʃ [श ] nation ʒ [ज़ ] visual
laugh,phone move,of ,teeth,thing mother,this notice cosy,has shop,special Television
m [म ] lamb, n[ ] now, ŋ[ङ ] J[य ]Yes , l[ल ]smelly, r[र ] berry, w[व ] where , h[ह ] who,
mouse, funny ,knife sing ,uncle , onion,view feel,love wrong,run one,we hungry ,hope
tummy Angry,thing
Phonemic Chart
CONSONANT CONSONANTS CONSONANT
IPA Grapheme Example IPA Grapheme Example
SYMBOL Written Pattern SYMBOL Written Pattern
b [ब ] b|bb hobby,herb,boat ŋ[ङ ] ng sing ,uncle ,Angry,thing
ʧ[च ] c|k,ck,q,ch picture,cheese,itch p[प ] p|pp hopping,jump,pea
d[ड ] d|dd dog,added,played r[र ] r|rr,wr berry,wrong,run
ʤ[ज ] dg,j jam,danger,fudge ʃ [श ] Sh,ch,si,ti Nation,shop,special
f [फ़ ] f|ff,ph,gh free,laugh,phone s[स ] s|ss,ce,se,c,sc see,city,notice
g[ग ] g|gg hug,league,go ʒ [ज़ ] s visual ,Television
h[ह ] h|wh who,hungry ,hope t [ट ] t|tt table,little,watched
J[य ] J|g,dge,ge Yes ,onion,view θ[थ ] th healthy,teeth,thing
k[क ] k|k,c key,car,luck ð [द ] th with,mother,this
l[ल ] l|ll,le smelly,feel,love v[व ] v|ve video,move,of
m [म ] m|mn,mb lamb,mouse, tummy w[व ] w|wh,u where ,one,we
n[ ] n|nn,kn now,funny ,knife z[ज ] z|zz,ze,s,se zoo,cosy,has
Vowel
Short Vowel Long Vowel
IPA Grapheme Example IPA Grapheme Example
SYMBOL Written Pattern SYMBOL Written Pattern
e[ए ] ea,a,e bed,dead,said,left iː [ई ] ee Sheep,feed,Eagle, field
æ [ऐ ] ee apple,cat,hat ɜː[ ] i,u,or,er bird,hurt,work,her
ʌ[अ ] u,e up,money,cut ɔː[ औ ] oo,a,aw, door,walk,saw
ʊ[ उ ] oo,u,ou Book,good put should uː[ऊ ] oo,ew,ough moon,grew,through
ɒ [ऑ ] oo,ew,ough what,because,on ɑː [आ ] oo,u,ou car,bath,safari
Ə[अ ] o,er about,Police,,teacher Diphthongs
IPA Grapheme Example
ɪ[ इ ] u,e Ship ,busy, started
SYMBOL Written Pattern
Diphthongs
ɔɪ[ [ऑय ] oy,oi Oil,Boy,point,coin
IPA Grapheme Example əʊ [ओ ] o,ow Coat,Low,note,show
SYMBOL Written Pattern
eə [ए अ ] air,are hair,careful
ɪə[इय ] ere,eer ear,here,career
aɪ[आई ] igh,i by,high,fine,like
eɪ [ एई ] a,ai Say,Train,plane,wait
aʊ [आउ ] ow,ou Now,our
ʊə [उअ ] ure,our sure,your,tourist
Voiced :
Unvoiced :
CONSONANT CONSONANT
IPA Grapheme Example IPA Grapheme Written Example
SYMBOL Written Pattern SYMBOL Pattern
b [ब ] b|bb hobby,herb,boat ŋ[ङ ] ng sing ,uncle ,Angry,thing
ʧ[च ] c|k,ck,q,ch picture,cheese,itch p[प ] p|pp hopping,jump,pea
d[ड ] d|dd dog,added,played r[र ] r|rr,wr berry,wrong,run
ʤ[ज ] dg,j jam,danger,fudge ʃ [श ] Sh,ch,si,ti Nation,shop,special
f [फ़ ] f|ff,ph,gh free,laugh,phone s[स ] s|ss,ce,se,c,sc see,city,notice
g[ग ] g|gg hug,league,go ʒ [ज़ ] s visual ,Television
h[ह ] h|wh who,hungry ,hope t [ट ] t|tt table,little,watched
J[य ] J|g,dge,ge Yes ,onion,view θ[थ ] th healthy,teeth,thing
k[क ] k|k,c key,car,luck ð [द ] th with,mother,this
l[ल ] l|ll,le smelly,feel,love v[व ] v|ve video,move,of
m [म ] m|mn,mb lamb,mouse, tummy w[व ] w|wh,u where ,one,we
n[ ] n|nn,kn now,funny ,knife z[ज ] z|zz,ze,s,se zoo,cosy,has
Vowel
Vowel Vowel
IPA Grapheme Example IPA Grapheme Example
SYMBOL Written Pattern SYMBOL Written Pattern
iː [ई ] ee Sheep,feed,Eagle, field Ə[अ ] o,er about,Police,,teacher
ɪ[ इ ] u,e Ship ,busy, started ɜː[ ] i,u,or,er bird,hurt,work,her
ʊ[ उ ] oo,u,ou Book,good put should ɔː[ औ ] oo,a,aw, door,walk,saw
uː[ऊ ] oo,ew,ough moon,grew,through æ [ऐ ] ee apple,cat,hat
e[ए ] ea,a,e bed,dead,said,left ʌ[अ ] u,e up,money,cut
ɑː [आ ] oo,u,ou car,bath,safari
Diphthongs ɒ [ऑ ] oo,ew,ough what,because,on
IPA Grapheme Example
SYMBOL Written Pattern Diphthongs
ɪə[इय ] ere,eer ear,here,career IPA Grapheme Example
eɪ [ एई ] a,ai Say,Train,plane,wait SYMBOL Written Pattern
ʊə [उअ ] ure,our sure,your,tourist eə [ए अ ] air,are hair,careful
ɔɪ[ [ऑय ] oy,oi Oil,Boy,point,coin aɪ[आई ] igh,i by,high,fine,like
əʊ [ओ ] o,ow Coat,Low,note,show aʊ [आउ ] ow,ou Now,our
Vowel and Consonants
Vowel Sounds = 21
Consonant sounds = 24
Total (Vowel + Consonant )= 45
English Vowel Sounds
What are vowel sounds?
English has fifteen vowel sounds represented by the letters a, e, i, o, and u. The letters y, w and gh are also commonly used in
vowel sound spellings. Vowel sounds are produced with a relatively open vocal tract short vowel sounds are usually spelled with
a single letter, while long vowel and other vowel sounds are generally spelled with combinations of letters
Consonant Sounds
Introduction to Long Vowels
What is a long vowel sound?
Long vowel is the term used to refer to vowel sounds whose pronunciation is the same as its letter name. The five
vowels of the English spelling system ('a', 'e,' 'i,' 'o,' and 'u') each have a corresponding long vowel
sound /eɪ/, /i/, /ɑɪ/, /oʊ/, /yu/. Long vowels are generally the easiest vowels for non-native English speakers to
distinguish and pronounce correctly.
Vowel-Consonant-e (VCe) pattern
A spelling pattern that is true for all long vowel sounds is the Vowel-Consonant-e (VCe) pattern. The VCe pattern
states that when a single vowel is followed by a single consonant, then the letter 'e', the first vowel is pronounced
as a long vowel sound and the letter 'e' is silent.
When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the silent "e" is a signal that the vowel in front of it is long.If an E Appears at
the End of a Word, It Is Silent. The Preceding Vowel (Separated from the E by One or More Consonants) Will Be
Pronounced as a Long Vowel
Rule represented in this way: CVCe.
A final vowel at the end of a word is pronounced as a long vowel. A vowel at the end of a word may appear in a
single syllable word or a multisyllabic word.Some examples of single syllable words which follow this rule are go,
he, me, we, hi, go, no, so and he. Multiple syllable examples include ago and ego. You might see these words
represented like this CV
When a syllable has 2 vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent. Examples: "pain,
eat, boat, res/cue, say, grow".
You might see words which follow this rule represented this way: CVVC. English examples include true, beat, train,
leaf, and load.
Sound IPA Letter Example
'a' /eɪ/ a_e(VCE),-ai-,-a Day/deɪ Gave/geɪv lady/ˈleɪ di same /seɪm cake /keɪk
y,-igh- safe /seɪf rain /reɪn paid /peɪd faith /feɪθ say /seɪ
play /pleɪ way /weɪ eight /eɪt weigh /weɪ
'e' /i/ -ee-,-ea-,ie_e,-e Be /bi Teacher /ti tʃər keep /kip free /fri seem /sim
,-y Eat /it dream /drim each /iʧ tea /ti piece /pis
grieve /griv achieve /əʧiv
'i' /ɑɪ/ i_e(VCE),igh,ie,- My/maɪ dry /drɑɪ flight/flaɪt bright /brɑɪt light /lɑɪt
y,-y- ice /ɑɪs hide /hɑɪd smile /smɑɪl hyper /hɑɪpɚ sigh /sɑɪ
tie /tɑɪ pie /pɑɪ shy /ʃɑɪ dynamic /dɑɪnæmɪk die /dɑɪ
Ice/aɪs sky /skɑɪ cycle /sɑɪkl
'o' /oʊ/ o_e Go/goʊ Phone/foʊn joke /ʤoʊk rope /roʊp vote /voʊt
(VCE),-oa-,-ow-, boat /boʊt local/ˈloʊ kəl soap /soʊp toast /toʊst snow /snoʊ
-o- own /oʊn known /noʊn most /moʊst both /boʊθ
'u' /yu/ u_e (VCE) Use/yuz duty/dyuti music/ˈmyu zɪk cute/kyut huge/hyudʒ
ue*,ew* tune/tyun few/fyu neutral/ˈnyu trəl hue/hyu cute /kyut
eu ,ue, ui dew/dyu new/nyu huge /hyuʤ cube /kyub fuel /fyul
hue /hyu skew /skyu rescue /rɛskyu
Introduction to Short Vowels
Introduction to Short Vowels
What makes a sound a short vowel?
The term short vowel is used to refer to the sounds that most often correspond to the letters 'a,' 'e,' 'i,' 'o,' and
'u' when the vowel occurs individually between consonants (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant, or CVC pattern).
All of the short vowel key words use the Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) pattern. The CVC pattern states
that when a single vowel is between two consonants, the vowel is pronounced as a short vowel sound (if the
letter 'e' follows the second consonant, the vowel will be pronounced as a long vowel sound due to the
Vowel-Consonant-e pattern).
The CVC pattern still applies when a word begins with a vowel sound and is followed by one or more
consonants.
When a vowel is followed by one consonant, that vowel is usually short.
A vowel is usually short when there is only one vowel in a word or syllable as in on, red and fantastic.
A Vowel Followed by Two Consonants at the End of a Word Is Pronounced as a Short Vowel.
Words that conform to this rule may be single vowels followed by a consonant blend CVCC. Some examples
include the following: stops, want, hand, wish, and bark.
Double consonant rule
Explanation: There's a SHORT VOWEL before a double consonant.
Example:
Planner/ˈplæn ər,dinner/ˈdɪn ər,hopping/ˈhɒp ɪŋ.
SOME EXCEPTIONS: caller, stalling, falling, etc.
Sounds IPA Letter Example
'a' 'short a' /æ/ a Cat/kæt have/hæv sample/ˈsæm pəl apple/ˈæp əl land/lænd
last/læst mad/mæd travel/ˈtræv əl dance/dæns class/klæs
'e' 'short e' /ɛ/ -e-(CVC),e bed /bɛd send /sɛnd yes /yɛs head /hɛd bread /brɛd
a* heaven /hɛvən
'i' 'short i' /ɪ/ -i-(CVC),-y
- Sit/sɪt it, /ɪt lip /lɪp spin /spɪn myth /mɪθ
system /sɪstəm/ symbol /sɪmbəl
'o' 'short o' /ɑ/ -o- (CVC)
Top/tɒp odd /ɑd box /bɑks shock /ʃɑk
'u' short u /ʌ/ -u- (CVC)
sun/sʌn Cut /kʌt Flood /flʌd Love /lʌv duck /dʌk
us /ʌs just /ʤʌst
Introduction to Other Vowel Sounds
The five 'other' vowel sounds do not fit into the category of a long vowels or short vowels.
Sound IPA Letter Example
1. other /ʊ/ oo,-u- Put/pʊt good /gʊd/ look /lʊk/ book /bʊk/ put /pʊt/
u (CVC),-ure full /fʊl/ sugar /'ʃʊg ɚ/ pure /pʊr/ insure /in 'ʃʊr/ cure /kʊr/
2.oo /u/ oo,u_e Soon/sun food /fud school /skul rude/rud salute /səˈlut
sound (VCe),ue,ew clue /klu true /tru glue /glu drew /dru flew /flu
3.aw /ɔ/ aw,-o-
sound (CVC),au,aug law /lɔw thought /θɔt drawn /drɔn want /wɔnt wash /wɔʃ
h,ough(+t),( soft /sɔft caution /'kɔ ʃən haunt /hɔnt caught /kɔt taught /tɔt
w+)a dog /dɔg author /'ɔ θɚ brought /bɔ watch /wɔʧ awful /'ɔ fəl
lost /lɔst daughter /'dɔ t̬ɚ ought /fɔt
4.oi /ɔɪ/ oi,oy
Join/dʒɔɪn oil /ɔɪl voice /vɔɪs point /pɔɪnt boy /bɔɪ
joy /ʤɔɪ loyal /'lɔɪ əl
5.ow /aʊ/ ow,ou
Down/daʊn cow /kaʊ brown /braʊn owl /aʊl out /aʊt
count /kaʊnt mouse /maʊs
R-controlled vowels in American English
When a vowel is followed by an "r" in the same syllable, that vowel is "r-controlled". It is not long nor short.
"R-controlled "er,ir,and ur" often sound the same (like "er"). Examples: "term, sir, fir, fur, far, for, su/gar, or/der".
American English pronunciation has four widely recognized r-controlled-vowels:
The schwa+r /ɚ/ pronunciation is unique in that it includes no vowel sound (it sounds identical to an 'r sound' /r/ when
spoken in isolation); however, it retains the vowel-like quality of being syllabic, forcing a syllable to occur. The three
remaining r-controlled vowels are combinations of a vowel sound plus the 'r sound' /r/.
Sound IPA Letter Example
1.'schwa+r' /ɚ/ er,ir,ur,ear,(w+)
or,vowel+r Stir/stɜr her /hɚ after /'æft ɚ verb /vɚb girl /gɚl
(unstressed learn /lɚn pearl /pɚl forget /fɚ 'gɛt heard /hɚd word /wɚd
syllable) work /wɚk world /wɚld doctor /'dɑkt ɚ dollar /'dɑl ɚ
2.'ar sound' /ɑr/ ar
arm /ɑrm start /stɑrt car /kɑr
3.'or sound' /ɔr/ or,ore,oar,(w+)
ar Store/stɔr corn /kɔrn north /nɔrθ short ,ʃɔrt more /mɔr
store /stɔr board /bɔrd before /bə 'fɔr warm /wɔrm award /ə 'wɔrd
4.'air sound' /ɛr/ air,are
chair /ʧɛr pair /pɛr stair /stɛr dare /dɛr/ rare /rɛr
scare /scɛr
Consonants
Letter/Sound Notes
b sound /b/
The 'b sound' /b/ is voiced (the vocal cords vibrate while producing it), and is the counterpart to
the unvoiced 'p sound' /p/.
Pattern Example
b/bb back /bæk rabbit /'ræ bɪt job /ʤɑb
C Sound
After C if a,o,u comes C is Pronounced as /k/ sound
Example
camel/ˈkæm əl cotton/ˈkɒt n cunning/ˈkʌn ɪŋ
After C if e,i,y comes C is Pronounced as /s/.(It doesn't matter if the vowel is short or long).
Cell/sɛl center/ˈsɛn tər city/sɪt i cycle/ˈsaɪ kəl balance/ˈbæl əns
certain/ˈsɜr tn circle/ˈsɜr kəl
When After C ->cian,cial,cious,cient,cean,cien comes C pronounced as sh
Ancient/eɪn ʃənt Sufficient/səˈfɪʃ ənt Special/ˈspɛʃ əl Racial/ˈreɪ ʃəl Gracious/ˈgreɪ ʃəs
Optician/ɒpˈtɪʃ ən Beautician/byuˈtɪʃ ən ocean/ˈoʊ ʃən deficiency/dɪˈfɪʃ ən si
ch sound /ʧ/
The 'ch sound' /ʧ/ is unvoiced (the vocal cords do not vibrate during its production), and is the
counterpart to the voiced 'j sound' /ʤ/
Pattern Example
ch chip /ʧɪp teacher /'tiʧ rich /rɪʧ Achieve/əˈtʃiv Chair/tʃɛər
tch itch /ɪʧ kitchen /ikɪʧ n̩ wretch rɛtʃ watch /wɑʧ Switch/swɪtʃ
t(+u) virtue /'vɚ ʧu century /'sɛn ʧɚ i
Consonants
Letter/Sound Notes
d sound /d/
The 'd sound' /d/ is voiced (the vocal cords vibrate while producing it), and is the counterpart to
the unvoiced 't sound' /t/.
Pattern Example
d/dd down /daʊn ladder /læ dɚ sad /sæd
f sound /f/
The 'f sound' /f/ is unvoiced (the vocal cords do not vibrate during its production), and is the
counterpart to the voiced 'v sound' /v/.
Pattern Example
f/ff fine /fɑɪn lift /lɪft stuff /stʌf
ph phase /feɪz orphan /'ɔr fən graph /græf photo/ˈfoʊ toʊ
g sound /g/
The 'g sound' /g/ is voiced (the vocal cords vibrate while producing it), and is the counterpart to
the unvoiced 'k sound' /k/.
Pattern Example
g/gg girl /gɚl begin /bɪ 'gɪn egg /ɛg again/ əˈgɛn
(n+)g anger /æŋ 'gɚ language /'læŋ gwɪʤ single /sɪŋ gl
-gue vague /veɪg dialogue/ˈdaɪ əˌlɔg league/lig
1.Long "G" : When After G ,a,o,u comes then "g" has the /g/ sound.
gain/geɪn figure/ˈfɪg yər Good/gʊd
2.Short"G" : When After G ,e,i,y comes, then "g" as the /j/ sound.
gentle/ˈdʒɛn tl gymnast/dʒɪm næst vigilance/ˈvɪdʒ ə ləns imagine/ ɪˈmædʒ ɪn
Consonants
Letter/Sound Notes
h sound /h/
The 'h sound' /h/ is unvoiced, and the vocal cords do not vibrate during the production of this
sound.
Pattern Example
h hello /hə 'loʊ happy /'hæp i behind /bɪ 'hɑɪnd
wh who /hu whole /hoʊl whose /huz
j sound /ʤ/
The 'j sound' /ʤ/ is voiced (the vocal cords vibrate during its production), and is the counterpart
to the unvoiced 'ch sound' /ʧ/.
Pattern Example
j jump /ʤʌmp juice /ʤus eject /ɪ 'ʤɛct
dg budget /bʌʤ ət bridge /brɪʤ edge /ɛʤ
g(+i) giant /'ʤɑɪ ənt logic /'lɑʤ ɪk imagine /ɪm æʤ ɪn
g(+e) gentle /'ʤɛn tl̩ agenda /ə 'ʤɛn də age /eɪʤ
d(+u) procedure /prə 'si ʤɚ educate /'ɛd ʤə keɪt schedule /'skɛʤ ul
k sound /k/
The 'k sound' /k/ is unvoiced (the vocal cords do not vibrate while producing it), and is the
counterpart to the voiced 'g sound' /g/.
Pattern Example
k kid /kɪd skin /skɪn broke /broʊk
ck chicken /'ʧɪk n black /blæk duck /dʌk
“k” instead of “c” rule
When we need a Long "c" sound + e,i,y, then we have to use "k". It doesn't matter if the vowel is
short or long.
c cat /kæt focus /'foʊ kəs lilac /lɑɪ 'lɑk
ch chorus /'kɔr əs chaos /'keɪ ɑs ache /eɪk
qu quit /kwɪt quiet /'kwɑɪ ət squeak /skwik
que antique /æn 'tik unique /yu 'nik boutique /bu 'tik
Consonants
Letter/Sound Notes
l sound /l/
There are two 'l sound' formations--also known as allophones of the 'l sound': a 'light l' and a
'velar' (or dark) 'l'. The 'velar l' is represented by the International Phonetic Alphabet symbol
/ɫ/.
Pattern Example
l/ll like /lɑɪk black /blæk ball /bɔl Tell
-le circle /'sɚ kl double /'dʌ bl little /'lɪ t̬l
m sound /m/
Pattern Example
m/mm made /meɪd summer /'sʌm ɚ exam /ɪg 'zæm
-mn autumn /'ɔt̬ əm column /'kɑl əm condemn /kən 'dɛm
-mb climb /klɑɪm limb /lɪm dumb /dʌm
n sound /n/
Pattern Example
n/nn note /noʊt banner /'bæn ɚ twin /twɪn
kn- know /noʊ knock /nɑk knee /ni
gn gnome /noʊm sign /sɑɪn campaign /ˌkæm peɪn
ng sound /ŋ/
Pattern Example
ng hung /hʌŋ spring /sprɪŋ song /sɑŋ
n(+k) ankle /'æŋk l link /lɪŋk bank /bæŋk
n(+c) uncle /'ʌŋk l function /'fʌŋ ʃən extinct /ɪk 'stɪŋkt
Consonants
Letter/Sound Notes
p sound /p/
The 'p sound' /p/ is unvoiced (the vocal cords do not vibrate while producing it), and is the
counterpart to the voiced 'b sound' /b/.
Pattern Example
p/pp pet /pɛt happy /'hæ pi hope /hoʊp
r sound /r/
Pattern Example
r/rr red /rɛd sorry /'sɑr i year /yir arrive
wr write /rɑɪt wrap /ræp wrong /rɔŋ
s sound /s/
The 's sound' /s/ is unvoiced (the vocal cords do not vibrate during its production), and is the
counterpart to the voiced 'z sound' /z/.
Pattern Example
s/ss so /soʊ past /pæst kiss /kɪs
If After C if e,i,y comes C is Pronounced as /s/.
c(+e) center /'sɛnt ɚ license /'lɑɪs əns bounce /baʊns
c(+i) circle /'sɚ kl̩ city /'sɪ t̬i medicine /'mɛd ɪs ən
sc science /'sɑɪ əns muscle /'mʌs l descend /də 'sɛnd
x box /bɑks next /nɛkst oxygen /'ɑks ɪʤ ən
sh sound /ʃ/
The 'sh sound' /ʃ/ is unvoiced (the vocal cords do not vibrate during its production), and is the
counterpart to the voiced 'zh sound' /ʒ/.
Pattern Example
sh ship /ʃɪp ashame /ə 'ʃeɪm wish /wɪʃ
ch* chef /ʃɛf/ machine /mə 'ʃin mustache /'mʌ stæʃ
*The 'ch' spelling is more commonly pronounced as the 'ch' sound /ʧ/ (as in 'chip'). It is also
sometimes pronounced /k/ as in 'chaos.'
Consonants
Letter/Sound Notes
t sound /t/
The 't sound' /t/ is unvoiced (the vocal cords do not vibrate while producing it), and is the
counterpart to the voiced 'd sound' /d/.
Pattern Example
t/tt take /teɪk attach /ə 'tæʧ eat /it attack
Th sound
(unvoiced) The 'voiced th' /ð/ and 'unvoiced th' /θ/ sounds are the only pair of English sounds that share a
/θ/ single, common spelling.
Pattern Example
th (unvoiced) think /θɪŋk method /'mɛθ əd bath /bæθ Thing
Th sound
(voiced) /ð/ The 'voiced th' /ð/ and 'unvoiced th' /θ/ sounds are the only pair of English sounds that share a
single, common spelling.
Pattern Example
th (voiced) them /ðɛm mother /'mʌð ɚ smooth /smuð This ðɪs
v sound /v/
The 'v sound' /v/ is voiced (the vocal cords vibrate during its production), and is the counterpart
to the unvoiced 'f sound' /f/.
Pattern Example
v/ve very /'vɛr i never /'nɛv ɚ have /hæv
Consonants
Letter/Sound Notes
w sound /w/
The 'w sound' /w/ is created with the jaw mostly closed and the lips formed in a small, tight circle.
The sound is voiced, so the vocal cords must vibrate during the production of the sound.
Pattern Example
w win /win sweet /swit rewind /ri 'wɑɪnd
wh when /wɛn why /wɑɪ while /wɑɪ
qu quit /kwɪt quiet /'kwɪ ət queen /kwin
y sound /y/
The letter Y can function as a vowel or as a consonant. As a vowel,
1.Y has the vowel sounds [i], [ai].
Pattern Example
Y=[i] Any /ˈɛn i City/ˈsɪt i Carry/ˈkær i Funny/ˈfʌn i
Y=[aI] My/maɪ Cry/kraɪ Rely/rɪˈlaɪ Signify/ˈsɪg nəˌfaɪ
2.As a consonant, Y has the consonant sound [y] (i.e., a semivowel sound), usually at the
beginning of the word and only in the syllable before a vowel.
Pattern Example
[y] yes /yɛs you /yu beyond /bi 'yɑnd Yard/yɑrd
Consonants
Letter/Sound Notes
z sound /z/
The 'z sound' /z/ is voiced (the vocal cords vibrate during its production), and is the counterpart to
the unvoiced 's sound' /s/.
Pattern Example
z zoo /zu/ dozen /'dʌz ən quiz /kwɪz
s visit /'vɪz ɪt his /hɪz because /bɪ 'kʌz Has/hæz
x exit /'ɛgz ət example /ɪg 'zæmp l anxiety /æŋ 'zeɪ ət̬ i
zh sound /ʒ/
The 'zh sound' /ʒ/ is voiced (the vocal cords vibrate during its production), and is the counterpart to
the unvoiced 'sh sound' /ʃ/.
Pattern Example
ge beige /beɪʒ garage /gə 'rɑʒ massage /mə sɑʒ
S Vision/vɪʒ ən pleasure/ˈplɛʒ ər usually/ˈyu ʒu əl
