Vowels in English: Vowels in English:

Spelling vs. Spelling vs. PronunciationPronunciation

IPA Symbol IPA Symbol English English ExamplesExamples

[ ij ] *[ ij ] * sseaeat, ft, feeeet, bt, bee, , ffieield, ld, funnyfunny

[ ɪ ] [ ɪ ] sit, did, with, thissit, did, with, this [ ej ] [ ej ] ** cakcakee, hat, hatee, rain, , rain,

playplay

[ ɛ ] [ ɛ ] get, help, red, get, help, red, headhead

[ æ ] [ æ ] cat, hat, that, cat, hat, that, afterafter

[ a ] [ a ] not, stop, fond, not, stop, fond, want, fatherwant, father

[ ə ] [ ə ] sun, but, today, sun, but, today, sofasofa

[ uw ] [ uw ] ** spoon, new, glue, spoon, new, glue, fruitfruit

[ ʊ ] [ ʊ ] put, would, good, put, would, good, looklook

[ ow ] [ ow ] ** thosthosee, bon, bonee, goes, , goes, coatcoat

[ ɔ ] [ ɔ ] dog, talk, caught, dog, talk, caught, sawsaw

[aw] [aw] cow, town, house, cow, town, house, foundfound

[aj] [aj] I, buy, why, high, I, buy, why, high, nightnight

[ɔj] [ɔj] toy, boy, oil, soiltoy, boy, oil, soil

Silent -eSilent -e

→ → Words that end in a silent -e are Words that end in a silent -e are usually pronounced with a usually pronounced with a diphthong (sometimes called a diphthong (sometimes called a "long" vowel). Notice that the "long" vowel). Notice that the pronunciation of the vowel is the pronunciation of the vowel is the same as the name of the letter same as the name of the letter when reciting the alphabetwhen reciting the alphabet..

• • cake [ej] cake [ej] • these [ij] • these [ij] • bike [aj] • bike [aj] • home [ow] • home [ow] • tube [uw]• tube [uw]

→ → Words that do not end in a Words that do not end in a silent -e, but rather with a silent -e, but rather with a consonant, are usually consonant, are usually pronounced with a "short" vowel:pronounced with a "short" vowel:

• • cat [æ] cat [æ] • yes [ɛ] • yes [ɛ] • sit [ɪ] • sit [ɪ] • • log [ɔ] / not [a] log [ɔ] / not [a] • run [ə] / put [ʊ]• run [ə] / put [ʊ]

Some Exceptions to the Some Exceptions to the RulesRules

1. Rule:1. Rule: EA pronounced as [ij]: EA pronounced as [ij]: speak, eat, sea, teach, leave, dear, speak, eat, sea, teach, leave, dear, fear, read (present)fear, read (present)

Exceptions:Exceptions: EA can also be pronounced as [EA can also be pronounced as [ɛɛ]: ]:

head, sweat, threat, read (past)head, sweat, threat, read (past) EA can also be pronounced as [ej]: EA can also be pronounced as [ej]:

break, great, bear, pearbreak, great, bear, pear

3. Rule:3. Rule: OO pronounced as [uw]: OO pronounced as [uw]: spoon, moon, food, choose, loose, spoon, moon, food, choose, loose, goose, boot, zoogoose, boot, zoo

Exceptions:Exceptions: OO can also be pronounced as [OO can also be pronounced as [ʊʊ]: ]:

look, cook, book, hook, good, wood, look, cook, book, hook, good, wood, footfootOO can also be pronounced as [ow]: OO can also be pronounced as [ow]: door, floor, poor door, floor, poor

2. Rule:2. Rule: OW and OU pronounced as [aw]: OW and OU pronounced as [aw]: now, town, clown, house, mouse, foundnow, town, clown, house, mouse, found

Exceptions:Exceptions: OW/OU can also be pronounced as [ow]: OW/OU can also be pronounced as [ow]:

know, snow, show, own, flown, dough, know, snow, show, own, flown, dough, thoughthoughOU can also be pronounced as [OU can also be pronounced as [ɔɔ]: cough, ]: cough, fought, bought, brought, thoughtfought, bought, brought, thoughtOU can also be pronounced as [OU can also be pronounced as [əə]: rough, ]: rough, tough, enoughtough, enoughOU can also be pronounced as [uw]: OU can also be pronounced as [uw]: through, youthrough, you

The most common words in The most common words in English do not follow the English do not follow the

rules!rules!

havehave is pronounced [ is pronounced [æ], as in hatæ], as in hat sayssays / / said said are pronounced [are pronounced [ɛ], as ɛ], as

in redin red givegive & & livelive are pronounced [ are pronounced [ɪɪ], as in ], as in

diddid gonegone is pronounced [ is pronounced [ɔ], as dogɔ], as dog

whatwhat / / waswas / / comecome / / somesome / / donedone / / doesdoes are pronounced [ are pronounced [əə], as in run], as in run

loselose is pronounced [uw], as in new is pronounced [uw], as in new would / could / shouldwould / could / should / / putput is is

pronounced [pronounced [ʊʊ], as in good], as in good findfind is pronounced [aj], as in buy is pronounced [aj], as in buy

Practice saying these Practice saying these sentences:sentences:

1. What have you gone and done 1. What have you gone and done now?now?

2. I live in a white house that my 2. I live in a white house that my father owns.father owns.

3. You always read so much that 3. You always read so much that your head hurts.your head hurts.

4. I know now what he said and did.4. I know now what he said and did. 5. We're going to lose if you choose 5. We're going to lose if you choose

to wait.to wait. 6. Tim and Dan said there was no 6. Tim and Dan said there was no

time to waste.time to waste.

7. This suit looks good on you.7. This suit looks good on you. 8. These and those should go well 8. These and those should go well

together.together. 9. Could you talk to my sister for 9. Could you talk to my sister for

me?me?

10. They bought some dough to 10. They bought some dough to make cookies, but it wasn't enough.make cookies, but it wasn't enough.

11. Please close the door. The heat 11. Please close the door. The heat will make us sweat.will make us sweat.

12. The man said the train was late 12. The man said the train was late because of the snow.because of the snow.

13. I thought you said that rugby 13. I thought you said that rugby was too rough to play.was too rough to play.

14. Jane went to the store because 14. Jane went to the store because she wanted to buy some peaches.she wanted to buy some peaches.

15. This cat hates to eat meat but he 15. This cat hates to eat meat but he loves other good food.loves other good food.

16. Don't yell at me because I won't 16. Don't yell at me because I won't help you cook.help you cook.

17. An apple fell on the ground, and 17. An apple fell on the ground, and another fell in the pond.another fell in the pond.

18. The plural of mouse is mice, but 18. The plural of mouse is mice, but the plural of goose is geese.the plural of goose is geese.

19. The queen sat on her throne and 19. The queen sat on her throne and ate grapes from a plate.ate grapes from a plate.

20. The cat and dog fought all day 20. The cat and dog fought all day until I brought one inside the house.until I brought one inside the house.

21. First I made the bed and then I 21. First I made the bed and then I had some tea and bread with jam.had some tea and bread with jam.

22. I didn't hear what you said, my 22. I didn't hear what you said, my dear. Is it over here or over there?dear. Is it over here or over there?

23. Why didn't you read this book 23. Why didn't you read this book last night? You had enough time.last night? You had enough time.

24. I have a big fear of bears and 24. I have a big fear of bears and snakes, but not spiders or wolves.snakes, but not spiders or wolves.

25. What is this blue and green 25. What is this blue and green fruit? Is it ripe enough to eat?fruit? Is it ripe enough to eat?