English phonetics

Vowels , Diphthongs and Triphthongs Descriptions.

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.

Front High vowels

Vowel sound /i/ Heights: High Backness: Unrounded Roundiness: Unrounded Lax or tense:Tense

Examples:

2. Green

1.Beet

3.Cheap

Front High vowels

Vowel sound /I/ Heights: High Backness: Unrounded Roundiness: Unrounded Lax or tense:Tense

Examples:

2. Lip

1.Chip

3.Bin

Mid Central vowels

Vowel sound /ʌ/ Heights: mid Backness: Unrounded Roundiness: Unrounded Lax or tense: relaxed

Examples:

2. Shut

1.Bun

3.Flood

Mid Central vowels

Vowel sound /ə/ Heights: mid Backness: Unrounded Roundiness: Unrounded Lax or tense: tense

Examples:

2. can

1. Do

3.To

Front low vowels

Vowel sound /æ/ Heights: low Backness: Unrounded Roundiness: Unrounded Lax or tense: tense

Examples:

2. That

1. Have

3.And

Front low vowels

Vowel sound/a/ Heights: low Backness: Unrounded Roundiness: Unrounded Lax or tense: relaxed

Examples:

2. Melodic

1. Hospital

3.Father

Low Back vowels

Vowel sound/Ʊ/ Heights: low Backness: rounded Roundiness: rounded Lax or tense: lax

Examples:

2. Wool

1. Wood

3.Bull

Low Back vowels

Vowel sound/uː/ Heights: low Backness: rounded Roundiness: rounded Lax or tense: lax

Examples:

2. Flu

1. Rule

3.Soup

Mid Back vowels

Vowel sound/o/ Heights: mid Backness: rounded Roundiness: rounded Lax or tense: lax

Examples:

2. Gone

1. Over

3.Follow

Mid Back vowels

Vowel sound/ɔ/ Heights: mid Backness: rounded Roundiness: rounded Lax or tense: lax

Examples:

2. Before

1. Accord

3.Long

Diphthongs: It is a single-syllable vowel sound in which the beginning of the sound glides to another , slightly different vowel sound. Triphthongs: Is a single syllable may contain three vowel sounds that quickly glide together.

Diphthongs Traditional long vowels

Vowel letter : A (ei)

Examples:

1.Tape

2. Make

3. Place

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : I (ai)

Examples:

1.Find

2. Bite

3.Tiger

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : O (oʊ)

Examples:

1.Home

2. Phone

3.Global

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : U(ju)

Examples:

1.Cube

2. Museum

3.Universe

Other diphthongs

Vowel letter : oy(ɔɪ)

Examples:

1.Boy

2. Toy

3.Noise

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : oi(ɔɪ)

Examples:

1.Coin

2. Foil

3.Choice

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : ou(aʊ)

Examples:

1.Found

2. Pout

3.Stout

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : ow(aʊ)

Examples:

1.Town

2. Crowd

3.Shower

Other diphthongs

Vowel letter : ee(ɪə)

Examples:

1.Deer

2. Sheer

3.Steer

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : ea(ɪə)

Examples:

1.Dear

2. Hear

3.Appear

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : ie(ɪə)

Examples:

1.Pier

2. Fierce

3.Frontier

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : are(ɛə)

Examples:

1.Flare

2. Care

3.Stare

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : air(ɛə)

Examples:

1.Stairs

2. Dairy

3.Repair

Diphthongs

Vowel letter : ear(ɛə)

Examples:

1.Wear

2. Bear

3.Pear

Triphthongs

Vowel letter : ou(aʊər)

Examples:

1.Our

2. Hour

3.Flour

Triphthongs

Vowel letter : ire(aɪər)

Examples:

1.Fire

2. Dire

3.Ireland

Triphthongs

Vowel letter : ure(jʊər)

Examples:

1.Cure

2. Pure

3.Fury