英语元音音标

Monophthong

Null Front Mid Back Long (KK) i ɝ u (ɑ ɑr) (ɔ ɔr) Short (KK) ɪ ɛ æ (ɚ ə) ʌ ʊ Long (DJ) i: ɜ: u: ɑ: (ɒ ɔ:) Short (DJ) ɪ e æ ə ʊ ʌ

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/i/ : In British English pronunciation this sound is usually written as /i:/, where the two dots represent a long vowel sound. Long and short vowels are not differentiated as much in American English and so the two dots are not written. If a vowel is before a voiced consonant then it is long. If it is before a voiceless consonant then it is short.

/ɪ/ : This is a different sound than /i/. The difference is not so much one of long and short, but of a different position of the mouth and tongue. The mouth is open just a little wider and the tongue is just a little further back than /i/.

/ɛ/ : Many dictionaries and textbooks that describe British English use the symbol /e/ for this sound. According to IPA, though, it should be written /ɛ/. The mouth is open less than with /æ/ and the tongue is a little more forward.

/æ/ : Stretch your lips wide like the /ɛ/ but open your mouth big like the /ɑ/. Your tongue should be further back than with /ɛ/.

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/ɝ/ : The /ɝ/ sound is sometimes written /ər/. This is the sound in a stressed syllable or a one syllable word. When /ɝ/ is unstressed it is written /ɚ/. In British English /ɝ/ is pronounced as /ɜ:/.

/ɚ/ : The /ɚ/ sound is the same as /ɝ/ except that /ɚ/ is used for unstressed syllables. It is sometimes also written as /ər/. In British English /ɚ/ is pronounced as /ə/.

/ʌ/ : This is a different sound than /ɑ/. The difference is not so much one of long and short, but of a different position of the mouth and tongue. Note that it is also pronounced somewhat differently than the British sound that is also usually written /ʌ/. When this sound is in an unstressed syllable it is written /ə/.

/ə/ : The vowel /ə/ is the most common sound in American English because of its use in unstressed syllables and words. It is called a schwa. when this sound is in a stressed syllable it is written /ʌ/.

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/ɑ/ : Also written as /ɑ:/ in British English. Note that this is a very different sound than /ʌ/ in American English.

/ɑr/ : The /ɑr/ sound is more correctly written /ɑɚ/ according to IPA. It is pronounced as /ɑ:/ in British English.

/ɔr/ : The ɔ used in /ɔr/ is not the same sound as the /ɔ/ in this app.(This is because the /ɔ/ used to describe many American Englsih words should be written /ɒ/.) The /ɔr/ sound begins with small rounded lips. It is pronounced as /ɔ:/ in British English.

/ɔ/ : This sound should be written /ɒ/ according to IPA. However, to be consistent with most dictionaries, /ɔ/ is used here. Note, though, that it is not the same sound as when /ɔ:/ is used to describe British pronunciation. About 40% of Americans do not pronounce the /ɔ/ sound. They replace it with the /ɑ/ sound. The words “cot” and “caught” would also be pronounced the same (/kɑt/).

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/u/ : Also written /u:/, but like /i:/, /ɑ:/, and /ɔ:/, the long vowel dots are not needed in American English.

/ʊ/ : Sometimes it is written incorrectly as /u/, but it should be written /ʊ/ (without the tail). /u/ and /ʊ/ are two very different vowels.

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Diphthongs

Null Closing Centering KK aɪ eɪ=e aʊ oʊ=o ɔɪ ɪr ɛr (ʊr iə ɪə) DJ aɪ eɪ aʊ əʊ ɔɪ ɪə eə ʊə

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/aɪ/ : This is a diphthong, a combination of the /a/ and /ɪ/ sounds. Note the difference from /æ/.

/eɪ/ : This is a diphthong, a combination of the /e/ and /ɪ/ sounds. It is sometimes also written as /e/ in some American English dictionaries. (Do not confuse this with the British English symbol /e/, which is actually pronounced /ɛ/.) Words with the American English /eɪ/ sound are pronounced /ɛɪ/ in British English. However, they still write it as /eɪ/.

/aʊ/ : This is a diphthong, a combination of the /a/ and /ʊ/ sounds. Note the difference from /ɔ/.

/oʊ/ : This is a diphthong, a combination of the /o/ and /ʊ/ sounds. Note that there is a slight difference from the British pronunciation of /əʊ/.

/ɔɪ/ : The ɔ used in /ɔɪ/ is not the same sound as the /ɔ/ in this app.(This is because the /ɔ/ used to describe many American English words should actually be written /ɒ/.) The /ɔɪ/ sound begins with small rounded lips.

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/ɛr/ : The /ɛr/ sound is more correctly written /ɛɚ/ according to IPA. It is pronounced and written as /eə/ in British English.

/ɪr/ : The /ɪr/ sound is more correctly written /ɪɚ/ according to IPA. It is pronounced as /ɪə/ in British English.