International Phonetic Alphabet: Vowels

Vowel Sounds:

Sound 1: /ɪ/

To produce this sound, slightly open your mouth and lift the middle part of your tongue.

live

lip

ship

tip

sit

Sound 2: /i/

To produce this sound, keep your mouth wide open, as in a broad smile, and lift the middle of your tongue.

baby

beach

sheep

scream

seat

Sound 3: /ɛ/

To produce this sound, stretch your lips, lower your jaw slightly, and put the back of your tongue down a little.

dress

medal

pen

friend

head

Sound 4: /ɜ/

To produce this sound, relax your mouth and jaw. Pull your tongue back and keep it high in your mouth.

learn

first

nurse

hurt

word

Sound 5: /ʌ/

To produce this sound, relax your mouth and jaw, and put your tongue down.

fun

love

brother

young

uncle

Sound 6: /ɑ/

To produce this sound, lower your jaw a little, and put the back of your tongue down.

heart

bar

father

calm

star

Sound 7: /ɒ/

To produce this sound, lower your jaw a little, and put the back of your tongue down.

hot

stop

odd

sock

job

Sound 8: /ɔ/

To produce this sound, your lips should be very rounded and pushed forward. Put your jaw and the front of your tongue down.

ball

thought

law

north

warm

Sound 9: /ʊ/

To produce this sound, round your lips a little and push them forward. The back of your tongue and your jaw should go up a little.

put

look

foot

full

wolf

Sound 10: /u/

To produce this sound, round your lips and pull the front of your tongue back, while lifting your jaw a bit.

blue

flew

fruit

food

rude

Sound 11: /ə/

To pronounce this sound you should open your mouth a little and relax the jaw. Place your tongue in the middle of your mouth cavity.

accuse

alone

family

common

father

Sound 12: /æ/

To produce this sound, open your mouth wide, lower your jaw, and put the back of your tongue down.

bad

apple

family

anxiety

happen

Sound 13: /aʊ/

To produce this sound, start with your mouth open wide, your tongue down and your jaw down. As you produce this sound, round your lips and move your jaw and tongue up.

house

proud

shout

cow

mouth

Sound 14: /oʊ/

To produce this sound, round your lips and start the sound with your tongue and jaw down. Move the back of your tongue up from a relaxed position and move your jaw up a little.

show

go

coat

ghost

road

Sound 15: /eɪ/

To produce this sound, start by widening your mouth. Afterward move your jaw and your tongue up a bit.

face

great

wait

escape

day

Sound 16: /aɪ/

To produce this sound, open your mouth wide. Spread your lips as you are producing the sound, and move your tongue and your jaw up.

price

high

try

buy

why

Sound 17: /ɔɪ/

To produce this sound, round your lips and start the sound with your tongue and jaw down. As you produce the sound, widen your lips and move your jaw and tongue up.

boy

choice

oil

joint

buoy

Let's practice and observe the differences!

You may sit in this seat.

The heat hit me when I stepped outside.

This tea will help you slip into a deep sleep.

They'll use a ship to transport the sheep.

It's important to seek medical advice if you are sick.

Bad dog! Get off the bed!

The men clapped when the man rescued the puppy.

I'll put the kettle on if you bring the cattle back into the barn.

She lost her temper when she realised that he had tampered with the food she was cooking.

Could you please lift that box and put it on that shelf on the left?

I beg of you, please, don't dig a big hole!

I think tea tastes better; coffee is too bitter.

The disk is in my desk.

There is a bug on my bag.

The truck left a tire track in the dirt.

I had to rush to the hospital, because my body was suddenly covered in a rash.

My mom gets mad when I bring mud into the house.