In this article, We will provide you English Vowels sounds with examples that are part and parcel of English linguistics.
1- Sound [ʌ]
The sound [ ʌ ] is a short, relaxed vowel. When pronouncing [ ʌ ], the mouth is half-open, the lips are neutral. The tongue is slightly moved away from the base of the lower teeth
Compare:
| but [ bʌt ] – but | come [ kʌm ] – to come |
| love [ lʌv ] – love | country [ kʌntri ] – country |
| dull [ dʌl ] – boring | us [ ʌs ] – us |
| gun [ gʌn ] – weapon | ugly [ ʌgli ] – ugly |
| summer [ sʌmə ] – summer | study [ stʌdi ] – study |
The differences in the pronunciation of the sounds [ ʌ ] and [ a: ] lie not only in the longitude – brevity, but also in the quality of these sounds.
When pronouncing [ ʌ ], the tongue lies at the base of the lower teeth, the lips are neutral.
Compare:
| [ kʌm ] – [ ka: m ] | come – calm | come – calm |
| [ dʌk ] – [ da: k ] | duck – dark | duck – dark |
| [ lʌk ] – [ la: k ] | luck – lark | luck is a lark |
| [ bʌt ] – [ ba: t ] | but – Bart | but – Bart (name) |
| [ pʌk ] – [ pa: k ] | puck – park | washer – park |
2- Sound [æ]
This is a short open sound. When pronouncing [ æ ], you need to pull the corners of the mouth to the sides a little, place the tongue as flat as possible in the mouth and lower the jaw quite vigorously.
Compare:
| act [ ækt ] – action | bad [ bæd ] – bad |
| Ann [ æn ] – Anna | map [ mæp ] – map |
| add [ æd ] – add | family [ fæmili ] – family |
| Alice [ ælis ] – Alice | plan [ plæn ] – plan |
| lamp [ læmp ] – lamp | narrow [ nærou ] – narrow |
In writing, the sound [ æ ] is conveyed by the letter a , which is read like [ æ ] , if after it there is one or more consonant letters: map , plan , cat , sand , Ann .
Since both of these sounds are short, the difference between them is in the degree of their openness.
The sound [ æ ] is a very open sound, when pronounced, the tongue is placed as flat as possible in the mouth, and the jaw drops quite low. When pronouncing [ e ], the jaw almost does not drop, the tongue is at the base of the lower teeth, the lips are stretched.
| [ bed ] – [ bæd ] | bed – bad | bed – bad |
| [ lend ] – [ lænd ] | lend – land | lend – land |
| [ send ] – [ sænd ] | send – sand | send – sand |
| [ sed ] – [ sæd ] | said – sad | said – sad |
| [ pen ] – [ pæn ] | pen – pan | handle – pan |
3-Sound [a:]
When pronouncing a long sound [ a: ], the tip of the tongue is significantly pulled away from the lower teeth. The dorsum of the tongue is curved and raised to the hard palate. (Imagine that the doctor asks you to open your mouth and show your throat. In this case, you instinctively pull your tongue away from your teeth!)
Compare:
| garden [ ga: dn ] – garden | dark [ da: k ] – dark |
| calm [ ka: m ] – calm | lark [ la: k ] – lark |
| ask [ a: sk ] – ask | raft [ ra: ft ] – raft |
| aunt [ a: nt ] – aunt | spark [ spa: k ] – spark |
| after [ a: ftə ] – after | class [ kla: s ] – class |
In writing, the sound [ a: ] is transmitted:
a combination of letters a + r: park, car, dark, lark, art, jar.
the letter a is also read as [ a: ] before f, nt, th: raft, after, father, bath, plant.
in combination a + s + consonant : class , ask , grass (exception: aunt ).
4- Sound [ai]
The sound [ ai ] is a diphthong consisting of a core and a slip. The core of a brief sound of the diphthong [ ʌ ]. After pronouncing the nucleus, the tongue moves up in the direction of the sound [ i ]. The sound [ i ] should not sound distinct.
This is how [ ai ] sounds in English words:
Compare:
| ice [ ais ] – ice | life [ laif ] – life | why [ wai ] – why |
| item [ aitm ] – item | time [ taim ] – time | bite [ bait ] – to bite |
| island [ ailənd ] – island | chime [ tʃaim ] – ringing | try [ trai ] – try |
| mild [ maild ] – weak | write [ rait ] – write | dry [ drai ] – dry |
| file [ fail ] – file | kind [ kaind ] – kind | high [ hai ] – high |
In writing, the sound [ ai ] is transmitted:
letter i if it is followed by a consonant + dumb e : time , life , chime , jive , ice , item .
if y is at the end of a monosyllabic word, then it reads as [ ai ] : why , try , dry .
before the letter combinations ld , nd , gh, the letter i also transmits the sound [ ai ] : mild , kind , high
5- Sound [aʊ]
The sound [ aʊ ] is a diphthong. Its nucleus is pronounced in the same way as the first element of the sound [ ai ], and then the tongue moves back and up in the direction of the sound [ ʊ ].
The second element must be very weak.
This is how [ aʊ ] sounds in English words:
Compare
| out [ aʊt ] – out | down [ daʊn ] – below |
| about [ əbaʊt ] – about, about | noun [ naʊn ] – noun |
| owl [ aʊl ] – owl | cloud [ klaʊd ] – cloud |
| bow [ baʊ ] – bow | brown [ braʊn ] – brown |
| town [ taʊn ] – city | drown [ draʊn ] – to sink |
In writing, the sound [ aʊ ] is transmitted:
letter combination ou : house , noun , cloud , about .
combination of letters ow : town , how , owl , brown , drown , down .
exceptions: country [ kʌntri ], cousin [ kʌzn ].
6- Sound combinations [aiə, aʊə]
The sound combinations [ aiə ] , [ aʊə ] consist of diphthongs [ ai ] , [ aʊ ] and a neutral vowel [ ə ] .
It should be remembered that the middle element of the combination (i.e. the second element of the diphthong) is pronounced very weakly. When pronouncing [ aiə ] , [ aʊə ], you should not round your lips, so as not to replace the sound [ ʊ ] with the sound [ w ] .
This is how [ aiə ] , [ aʊə ] sound in English words:
| fire [ faiə ] – fire | our [ aʊə ] – our |
| hire [ haiə ] – to hire | flower [ flaʊə ] – flower |
| wire [ waiə ] – wire | towel [ taʊəl ] – towel |
| lion [ laiən ] – lion | vowel [ vaʊəl ] – vowel |
| desire [ dizaiə ] – desire | coward [ kaʊəd ] – coward |
| tired [ taiəd ] – tired | power [ paʊə ] – power |
| iron [ aiən ] – iron | sour [ saʊə ] – sour |
It should be remembered that the middle element of the combination (i.e. the second element of the diphthong) is pronounced very weakly. When pronouncing [ aiə ], [ aʊə ], you should not round your lips, so as not to replace the sound [ ʊ ] with the sound [ w ].
Please note that the sound [ ai ] and the sound combination [ aiə ] differ only in one element – the neutral vowel [ ə ] , but it is this difference that carries the semantic load.
| [ taid ] – [ taiəd ] | tied – tired | tied – tired |
| [ rait ] – [ raiət ] | write – riot | write – mutiny |
| [ lai ] – [ laiə ] | lie – liar | to lie is a liar |
| [ bai ] – [ baiə ] | buy – buyer | buy – buyer |
| [ drai ] – [ draiə ] | dry – dryer | dry – dryer |
| [ wai ] – [ waiə ] | why – wire | why – wire |
7 – Sound [i]
When pronouncing a short vowel sound [ i ], the tip of the tongue is at the lower teeth, the lips are slightly stretched
Before the sounds [ m ] , [ n ] , [ l ], the sound [ i ] is slightly lengthened, and before the voiceless consonants [ p ] , [ t ] , [ k ] , [ s ] is pronounced very briefly.
Compare:
| “film” – film [ film ] – film | “risk” – risk [ risk ] – risk |
| “il” – ill [ il ] – sick | “disk” – disk [ disk ] – disk |
| ” lick ” – lick [ lik ] – to lick | “finish” – finish [ finiʃ ] – finish |
| “city” – city [ siti ] – city | “critic” – critic [ kritik ] – critic |
The following English words contain a short sound [ i ]
| pin [ pin ] – pin | pit [ pit ] – pit | IT [ IT ] – it |
| till [ til ] – before | lip [ lip ] – lip | is [ iz ] – is / to be |
| fill [ fil ] – fill | tip [ tip ] – tip | in [ in ] – in |
| live [ liv ] – live | miss [ mis ] – miss | eleven [ ilevn ] – eleven |
| the dip [ the dip ] – dip | nil [ nil ] – zero | ill [ il ] – to be ill |
In writing, the sound [ i ] is transmitted:
- the letter i if it is followed by one or more consonants: pin, tip, fill, miss, ill .
The exception is live [ liv ]. - in an unstressed position in a word, the letter e conveys a short sound [ i ]: eleven.
8- Sound [i:]
When pronouncing a long sound [ i: ], the tongue is moved forward, the tip of the tongue slightly touches the lower teeth.
Compare:
| “mil” – meal [ mi: l ] – food | “leaf” – least [ li: st ] – smallest |
| “peel” – peel [ pi: l ] – peel | “wedge” – clean [ kli: n ] – clean |
| “syn” – seen [ si: n ] – visible | “cry” – creek [ kri: k ] – stream |
| “nit” – neat [ ni: t ] – neat | ” steel ” – steel [ sti: l ] – steel |
This is how [ i: ] sounds in English words:
| key [ ki: ] – key | teeth [ ti: θ ] – teeth |
| geese [ gi: s ] – geese | theme [ θi: m ] – theme |
| beat [ bi: t ] – beat | deal [ di: l ] – deal |
| Pete [ pi: t ] – Petya | seem [ si: m ] – to seem |
| field [ fi: ld ] – field | mean [ mi: n ] – mean |
In writing, the sound [ i: ] is transmitted:
letter e, if it is followed by a consonant letter + mute e or any other vowel: for These , Pete, Eva
letter combinations: ea , ee, ei , ie, for example: veal, need , ceil, field
the exception is the word: key [ ki: ]
9- Sound [e]
When pronouncing the short vowel [ e ], the tip of the tongue is at the base of the lower teeth. The lips are slightly stretched.
Before voiceless consonants [ e ] is pronounced very briefly, and before consonants [ n ] , [ l ] , [ m ] it is noticeably lengthened.
English words in which the sound [ e ] is pronounced :
| pen [ pen ] – pen | desk [ desk ] – desk |
| bed [ bed ] – bed | text [ tekst ] – text |
| lesson [ lesn ] – lesson | next [ nekst ] – next |
| end [ end ] – end | tent [ tent ] – tent |
| beg [ beg ] – to beg | less [ les ] – less |
| spell [ spel ] – spell | net [ net ] – network |
In writing, the sound [ e ] is conveyed by the letter e if it is followed by one or more consonants: pen , bed, tent , egg, desk , end, next
10- Sound [ei]
The sound [ ei ] is a diphthong, i.e. indivisible sound. The core of the diphthong is the vowel [ e ] . After pronouncing the nucleus, the tongue makes a slight upward movement in the direction of the d [ i ], without reaching its full formation.
Compare:
| “game” – game [ geim ] – game | “drink” – pay [ pei ] – pay |
| ” lay ” – lay [ lei ] – to put | “seim” – same [ seim ] – the same |
| “bay” – bay [ bei ] – bay | “case” – case [ keis ] – case |
| “safe” – safe [ seif ] – safe | “glue” – clay [ klei ] – clay |
| “pace” – pace [ peis ] – step | “sale” – sale [ seil ] – sale |
This is how the diphthong [ ei ] sounds in English words:
| pale [ peil ] – pale | plate [ pleit ] – plate |
| take [ teik ] – take | spade [ speid ] – shovel |
| name [ neim ] – name | snake [ sneik ] – snake |
| sale [ seil ] – sale | stale [ steil ] – stale |
| late [ leit ] – late | table [ teibl ] – table |
| gate [ geit ] – gate | ale [ eil ] – ale |
| date [ deit ] – date | able [ eibl ] – able |
| tape [ teip ] – tape | ape [ eip ] – monkey |
In writing, the sound [ ei ] is transmitted:
- letter a if it is followed by one consonant (sometimes two) + letter e , which is called a dumb letter. It is not pronounced, but only indicates that the letter a is read as [ ei ] : name , date , sale , snake , gate , tape , late , stale .
- the letter combination ey also reads as [ ei ] : gray , they .
The exception is key [ ki: ]
11- Sound [ə]
If the word has unstressed vowels, then in the transcription they are indicated by the [ ə ] sign . The sound [ ə ] is called neutral because it has no distinct coloration.
Compare
the pronunciation of English words with a neutral vowel [ ə ] :
| delta [ deltə ] – delta | letter [ letə ] – letter | again [ əgein ] – again |
| paper [ peipə ] – paper | enter [ entə ] – enter | attend [ ətend ] – to attend |
| geyser [ geizə ] – geyser | better [ betə ] – better | amaze [ əmeiz ] – to amaze |
In writing, the sound [ ə ] is transmitted:
- a combination of letters or , er, ar at the end of a word and pronounced without stress: paper, letter , better , doctor , dollar .
- the letter a in an unstressed position at the beginning and at the end of the word also conveys the sound [ ə ] : delta , again , attend .
12- Sound [iə]
The diphthong [ iə ] starts with the vowel [ i ] and ends with a slide towards the neutral sound [ ə ] .
It should be remembered that the consonant preceding this sound is not softened.
This is how [ iə ] sounds in English words:
| near [ niə ] – about | theater [ θiətə ] – theater |
| dear [ diə ] – dear | period [ piəriəd ] – period |
| here [ hiə ] – here | really [ riəli ] – actually |
| weary [ wiəri ] – tiresome | severe [ siviə ] – severe |
| clear [ kliə ] – clear | appear [ əpiə ] – to appear |
Description of English Vowels sounds
In writing, the sound [ iə ] is transmitted:
- the letter e followed by the letter r + a vowel : here , severe , period .
- letter combination ear : appear , clear , weary , dear .
- letter combination eer : engineer , sheer .
13- Sound [ɜ:]
The sound [ ɜ: ] is the most difficult sound to pronounce.This is a long, tense sound, when pronounced, the back of the tongue must be raised and positioned evenly and not bend
To pronounce this sound correctly, the back of the tongue should be raised and pulled back so that the edges of the tongue are slightly clamped between the upper and lower molars. The lips should be stretched and tense.
This is how [ ɜ: ] sounds in English words:
| curl [ kɜ: l ] – curl | hurt [ hɜ: t ] – to hit |
| girl [ gɜ: l ] – girl | turn [ tɜ: n ] – turn |
| first [ fɜ: st ] – first | learn [ lɜ: n ] – learn |
| serve [ sɜ: v ] – serve | bird [ bɜ: d ] – bird |
| purse [ pɜ: s ] – wallet | dirty [ dɜ: ti ] – dirty |
Description of English Vowels sounds
In writing, the sound [ ɜ: ] is transmitted:
vowels e , i , u , y if they are followed by the letter r : verb , girl , turn .
letter combination ear + consonant : early , earth .
The pronunciation of these vowels is distinguished by the degree of elevation of the language. When pronouncing [ e ], the tongue is at the base of the lower teeth; it’s flat and relaxed. When pronouncing [ ɔ: ], the tip of the tongue is pulled away from the lower teeth, its back is slightly curved. When pronouncing [ ɜ: ], the entire body of the tongue is pulled away from the teeth, so that the edges of the tongue lightly touch the molars. The back of the tongue should not bend.
| [ el ] – [ ɜ: l ] – [ ɔ: l ] | l – earl – all | letter L – duke – all |
| [ ten ] – [ tɜ: n ] – [ tɔ: n ] | ten – turn – torn | ten – turn – torn |
| [ len ] – [ lɜ: n ] – [ lɔ: n ] | Len – learn – lawn | Len (name) – study – lawn |
| [ bed ] – [ bɜ: d ] – [ bɔ: d ] | bed – bird – board | bed – bird – board |
| [ hel ] – [ hɜ: l ] – [ hɔ: l ] | hell – hurl – hall | hell – throw – hall |
14- Sound [ɒ]
When pronouncing the sound [ ɒ ], the mouth is wide open (about the distance of two fingers: index and middle), the lips are rounded, but not protruding forward. If you placed the organs of speech correctly for pronouncing this sound.
For example:
| box [ bɒks ] – box | lot [ lɒt ] – lot |
| cock [ kɒk ] – cock | soft [ sɒft ] – soft |
| got [ gɒt ] – got | rotten [ rɒtn ] – rotten |
| pot [ pɒt ] – bowler hat | what [ wɒt ] – what |
| often [ ɒfn ] – often | office [ ɒfis ] – office |
Description of English Vowels sounds
In writing, the sound [ ɒ ] is conveyed by the letter o if it is followed by one or more consonants: box , got , pot , soft , ox , odd , often .
15- Sound [ɔ:]
When pronouncing a long sound [ ɔ: ], the tongue is pulled away from the teeth, and is at the back of the mouth. The lips are slightly rounded, but not protruding forward.
Imagine that you are pronouncing the word “ode” with slightly rounded lips and a drawl [ o ]. Try it and you should get an English sound [ ɔ: ] .
Compare:
| “ox” – wall [ wɔ: l ] – wall |
| “gender” – Paul [ pɔ: l ] – Paul (name) |
| “table” – stall [ stɔ: l ] – stall |
| “tol” – tall [ tɔ: l ] – high |
| “current” – talk [ tɔ: k ] – to speak |
This is how [ ɔ: ] sounds in English words:
| call [ kɔ: l ] – call | raw [ rɔ: ] – raw |
| force [ fɔ: s ] – force | also [ ɔ: lsou ] – also |
| horn [ hɔ: n ] – horn | always [ ɔ: lwiz ] – always |
| salt [ sɔ: lt ] – salt | already [ ɔ: lredi ] – already |
| autumn [ ɔ: tm ] – autumn | order [ ɔ: də ] – order |
Description of English Vowels sounds
In writing, the sound [ ɔ: ] is transmitted:
letter o if followed by letter r : horn , lord ;
al + consonant : call , talk (and the l consonant is not readable);
letter combination au : autumn . The exception is aunt [ a: nt ]
letter combination aw : law
The vowel sounds [ ɒ ] – [ ɔ: ] differ from each other not only in length, but also in the quality of pronunciation.
The sound [ ɔ: ] has a darker shade, when pronounced, the mouth is not wide open, and the jaw practically does not drop.
When pronouncing the sound [ ɒ ], the mouth should be open by the size of the index and middle fingers, and the jaw should be lowered rather low. Errors in pronouncing these sounds will affect the meaning of the words.
Description of English Vowels sounds
Compare:
| [ spɒt ] – [ spɔ: t ] | spot – sport | place – sport |
| [ pɒt ] – [ pɔ: t ] | pot – port | pot – port |
| [ nɒt ] – [ nɔ: t ] | not – naught | not – nothing |
| [ kɒt ] – [ kɔ: t ] | cot – caught | cradle – caught |
| [ ʃɒt ] – [ ʃɔ: t ] | shot – short | shot – short |
| [ kɒd ] – [ kɔ: d ] | cod – cord | cod – cord |
| [ fɒks ] – [ fɔ: ks ] | fox – forks | fox – forks |
16- Sound [ɔi]
The sound [ ɔi ] is a diphthong, i.e. indivisible sound. The core of the diphthong is a short vowel [ ɔ ] ; the slide is in the direction of the vowel [ i ] . When pronouncing the second element.
For example :
| boy [ bɔi ] – boy | poison [ pɔizn ] – poison |
| toy [ tɔi ] – toy | coin [ kɔin ] – coin |
| voice [ vɔis ] – voice | oily [ ɔili ] – oily |
| noise [ nɔiz ] – noise | exploit [ iksplɔit ] – to exploit |
Description of English Vowels sounds
In writing, the sound [ ɔi ] is conveyed:
- letter combination oi : noise , coin , poison
- combination of letters oy : boy , toy , enjoy
17- Sound [əʊ]
The sound [ əʊ ] is a diphthong.
When pronouncing the sound [ əʊ ], the lips are at first slightly stretched, and then rounded, but not protruding forward. The first element of the diphthong resembles the neutral sound [ ə ] , and the slide is in the direction [ ʊ ] .
For example:
| boat [ bəʊt ] – boat | oak [ əʊk ] – oak |
| vote [ vəʊt ] – vote | only [ əʊnli ] – only |
| rose [ rəʊz ] – rose | old [ əʊld ] – old |
| note [ nəʊt ] – note | open [ əʊpn ] – open |
| load [ ləʊd ] – load | snow [ snəʊ ] – snow |
| photo [ fəʊtəʊ ] – photo | yellow [ jeləʊ ] – yellow |
Description of English Vowels sounds
In writing, the sound [ əʊ ] is transmitted:
- letter o if it is followed by a consonant letter + mute e or any other vowel: note Note , rose , chose , Those
- letter combination boat , coat , oak , load
- the combination ow at the end of a word can also convey the sound [ əʊ ] : snow , yellow
- before ld and at the end position in a word, the letter o is also read as [ əʊ ] : old , potato , tomato
18- Sound [ʊ]
When pronouncing a short sound [ ʊ ], the tongue is also pulled away from the lower teeth, but not as far as when pronouncing a long sound [ u: ] . The lips are slightly rounded, but not protruding forward. Of course, if you curl your lips when pronouncing the sounds [ ʊ ] and [ u: ] , you will still be understood, but a strong accent will appear.
Compare:
| “stud” – stood [ stʊd ] – stood | “tuk” – took [ tʊk ] – took |
| “hood” – hood [ hʊd ] – hood | “bow” – look [ lʊk ] – look |
| “foot” – foot [ fʊt ] – foot | “put” – put [ pʊt ] – put |
Description of English Vowels sounds
In writing, a short sound [ ʊ ] is transmitted:
- the letter combination oo + k . For example: book , look , cook , took , rook .
Exceptions: good , stood . - in some words, the letter u (usually after the consonants p , b ) is read as a short sound [ ʊ ] : put , pull , push , bush
Note the difference in pronunciation of [ u: ] and [ ʊ ] .
These sounds differ from each other in length. Longitude, brevity help to distinguish one word from another in English.
Description of English Vowels sounds
| [ fu: l ] – [ fʊl ] | fool – full | fool – complete |
| [ pu: l ] – [ pʊl ] | pool – pull | puddle – pull |
| [ bu: m ] – [ bʊl ] | boom – bull | boom – bull |
| [ ru: m ] – [ grʊm ] | room – groom | room – groom |
| [ ru: t ] – [ rʊk ] | root – rook | root – rook |
| [ lu: s ] – [ lʊk ] | loose – look | lose – watch |
19- Sounds [ʊə, jʊə]
The sound [ ʊə ] is a diphthong. The core of the diphthong is the short vowel [ ʊ ] , which is pronounced with a flat lip. Before pronouncing the core of the diphthong, you need to slightly stretch your lips, as if in a half smile. And the diphthong ends with a slide towards the neutral sound [ ə ] .
Sound combination [ jʊə ] is a variant of sound [ ʊə ] . At the beginning of pronouncing the diphthong [ ʊə ].
Remember that both elements of diphthongs should be pronounced together:
| poor [ pʊə ] – poor | cure [ kjʊə ] – cure |
| boor [ bʊə ] – rough | Europe [ jʊərəp ] – Europe |
| moor [ mʊə ] – to moor | pure [ pjʊə ] – pure |
| sure [ ʃʊə ] – reliable | plural [ plʊərəl ] – plural |
| cruel [ krʊəl ] – cruel | surely [ ʃʊəli ] – of course |
Description of English Vowels sounds
In writing, the sound combination [ jʊə ] is conveyed by a combination of letters ure , following, mainly, after the consonants c , p , m , n : cure , pure , demure , manure .
The sound [ ʊə ] is pronounced:
- after the sounds [ ʃ ] , [ l ] the letter u reads like [ ʊə ] : sure [ ʃʊə ], plural [ plʊərəl ]
- diphthong [ ʊə ] is also read in combination oor : poor [ pʊə ]
20- Sound [eə]
The sound [ eə ] is a diphthong, and like all diphthongs, it is considered one sound and, accordingly, is pronounced together. The sound [ e ] is the core of the diphthong .
This is how [ eə ] sounds in English words:
| pare [ peə ] – crop | stare [ steə ] – gaze |
| fare [ feə ] – fare | staircase [ steəkeis ] – staircase |
| chair [ tʃeə ] – chair | parents [ peərənts ] – parents |
| where [ weə ] – where | there [ ðeə ] – there |
| hair [ heə ] – hair | care [ keə ] – care |
Description of English Vowels sounds
In writing, the sound [ eə ] is transmitted:
- letters a + r + e : care , pare , fare , stare , parents .
Exception: where , there . - letter combinations air : staircase , hair .
- combination of letters eir in the word their .
