International Phonetic Alphabet
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The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is the alphabet that shows pronunciation. It is based on the English alphabet.
Key to IPA representation of English sounds
A guide to English sounds, in a sort of alphabetical order:
- ɑ as 'a' in 'father', or British English 'fast', or 'o' in American English 'not'
- æ as in 'cat', or American English 'fast'
- aɪ as 'i' in 'time'
- aʊ as 'ow' in 'now'
- ɒ as in British English 'not'
- b as in 'be'
- d as in 'do'
- dʒ as 'j' in 'just', or 'g' in 'gene'
- ð as 'th' in 'this'
- ə as 'a' in 'about', or 'e' in 'open'
- əʊ as 'o' in 'go'
- eɪ as 'ei' in 'vein' or 'ai' in 'vain'
- ɛ as 'e' in 'get'
- eə as 'ai' in 'hair'
- ɜ as 'e' in 'her', 'i' in 'fir', or 'u' in 'fur'
- f as in 'for'
- g as in 'go'
- h as in 'he'
- i as in 'machine', or 'ee' in 'see'
- ɪ as in 'it'
- ɪə as 'ea' in 'fear'
- j as 'y' in 'you'
- k as in 'kiss', or 'c' in 'cat'
- l as in 'like'
- m as in 'me'
- n as in 'no'
- ɔ as 'o' in 'or', or 'aw' in 'awful'
- ɔɪ as 'oi' in 'coin'
- p as in 'pip'
- r as in 'right'
- s as in 'sit', or 'c' in 'nice'
- t as in 'tell'
- tʃ as 'ch' in 'choose'
- θ as in 'think'
- u as in 'true', or 'oo' in 'food'
- ʊ as 'u' in 'put' or 'oo' in 'foot'
- ʊə as 'ure' in BrE 'pure'
- ʌ as 'u' in 'up'
- v as in 'very'
- w as in 'we'
- z as in 'zoo' or 's' in 'these'
- ʒ as 's' in 'vision'