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This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

This chart shows the most common applications of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to represent English language pronunciations.

See Pronunciation respelling for English for phonetic transcriptions used in different dictionaries.

Chart

This chart gives a partial system of diaphonemes for English. The symbols for the diaphonemes are given in bold, followed by their most common phonetic values. For the vowels, a separate phonetic value is given for each major dialect, and words used to name corresponding lexical sets are also given. The diaphonemes and lexical sets given here are based on RP and General American; they are not sufficient to express all of the distinctions found in other dialects, such as Australian English.

English consonants
Diaphoneme[1] Phones Examples
p pʰ pen
p spin, tip
b b but
b̥ web
t t sting, bet
tʰ, ɾ, ʔ[2] two
d d do
d̥, ɾ[3] odd, daddy
tʃ tʃʰ chair
tʃ teach, nature
dʒ dʒ gin, joy
d̥ʒ̊ edge
k k skin, unique, thick
kʰ cat, kill, queen
ɡ ɡ go, get
ɡ̊ beg
f f, ɸ[4] fool, enough, leaf, off, photo
v v, β[5] voice, verve
v̥ have, of, verve
θ θ, t̪, f[6] thing, teeth
ð ð, ð̥, d̪, v[7] this, breathe, father
s s see, city, pass
z z zoo
z̥ rose
ʃ ʃ she, sure, session, emotion, leash
ʒ ʒ genre, pleasure, equation, seizure
ʒ̊ beige
h h, ɦ,[8] ç[9] ham, hue
m m, ɱ[10] man, ham
n n no, tin
ŋ ŋ ringer, sing,[11] finger, drink
l l, ɫ,[12] l̥, ɫ̥,[13] ɤ, o,[14] left, bell, sable, please
r ɹʷ, ɹ, ɾ,[15] r,[16] ɻ, ɹ̥ʷ, ɹ̥, ɾ̥, ɻ̊,[13] ʋ[17] run, very, probably
w w, ʍ[13] we, queen
j j yes, nyala
hw ʍ, w[18] what
Marginal consonants
x x, χ, k, kʰ, h, ɦ, ç loch (Scottish),[19] ugh[20]
ʔ ʔ uh-oh
ɬ ɬ, l[21] Llangefni
English vowels and diphthongs
Dia-
phoneme[1] 		AmE AuE[22][23] BahE BarE CaE[24] Cameroonian English[25] CIE EnE FiE InE[26] IrE[27] NZE[28][29] PaE ScE[30] SIE SAE[31][32] SSE WaE[33] Keyword Examples
AAVE Boston accent Cajun English California English Chicano English General American[34][35][28] Inland Northern American English Miami accent Mid-Atlantic English New York accent Philadelphia accent Southern American English Brummie[36] Southern England English Northern England English RP[37][38][39] Ulster English West & South-West Irish English Dublin English Supraregional southern Irish English Abercraf English Port Talbot English Cardiff English
Non-Rhotic Rhotic Older Younger Northern Southern Non-Rhotic Older Rhotic Older Non-Rhotic Rhotic Cultivated General Broad Cockney Estuary English (EE) MLE[40] West Country Cumbrian Geordie Lancashire Manchester Pitmatic Scouse Yorkshire Conservative Contemporary Belfast Mid-Ulster traditional Ulster Scots Local Dublin English New Dublin English Cultivated General Broad Cultivated General Broad
æ ɛː~ɛə̯~eə̯ ɪə̯~eə̯~ɛɐ̯[41] æ eə~ɛə æ~ɛə̯~eə̯ eə̯~ɛə̯~æ[41] eə̯~ɪə̯ æ ɛə̯~eə̯~ɪə̯[41] æə̯~ɛə̯~eə̯[41] æɛæ~eə eə̯~æjə[41] æː[42] æː~ɛː[42] æ̝ː~ɛː~e̞ː[42] æ~a a æ~ɛə̯[41] a̽ æ a æ~ɛ~ɛɪ æ~a~ɛ̞ ɐ̞ æː~aː a~ä a a~ä a a~ä æ a æ æ~ɛ äː~a æ a æ~a æ ɛ ɛ̝ æ ä ɑ~æ æ a~æ æ~ɛ~e̞ ɛ[43] a aː[42] aː~æː[42] TRAP ham
æ~ɛː~ɛə̯ æ~ɛə̯ æ~ɛə̯ æ æ~æɛæ~ɐɛɐ æ~æjə~æ̠ɛæ̠ æ~a̝ bad
ɛ~æ~a~ä æ~æ̞ æ, ɛə̯~eə̯~ɪə̯[41] æ æ a̝~æ æ~ɛ æ~ɛ a a~æ lad
ɑː / æ ä~a ɛə̯~eə̯~ɪə̯[41] æə̯~ɛə̯~eə̯[41] æɛ~æe äː äː~ɐː aː ɑː ɑː ɑː~ɑ̟ː~ɑ̹ː ɑː ɑ̟ː ɑ̈ː~ʌ̞ː a~ɑ äː æː~aː aː ɐː~äː ɑ ɑ̟ː ɑː ɒː~ɔː ä[44] BATH pass
ɑː a~ä~ɑ a~ä ɑ ä~ɑ~ɒ ä~a ɑ~ä a~ä ɑ ɑ̟ː ɑ~ä ɑ ɑ ɒ~ɑ ɑː ɒ~ɑ äː ɒː~ɑː äː aː~ɑː äː aː äː~ɑː ɑː ɑː aː aː~æː PALM father
ɒ ɒ~ɑ ɒ ɒ ɒ~ɔ ɒ~ɑ ɔ ɒ ä~ɒ~ɔ̈~ɔ ɒ~ɔ ɒ~ɒ̈ ɒ~ɔ ɒ~ɑ̠ ɒ~ɔ ɒ ɒ~ɔ ɒ ɔ ɔ ɔ~ɒ~ä ɒ~ɑ~ä äː ɔː ä ɑ~ɒ~ɔ ɑ ɒ~ɔ ɑ ɔ ɒ̈ ɒ̈~ʌ̈ ɒ̈ ɔ ɒ ɑ̟ LOT not
ɒ / ɔː ɒ(ɔ̯)~ɔ(ʊ̯)~ɔə̯ a ɒ~ɔ~ɑ[45] ɒ~ɑ ɑ~ɔ ɔə̯~oə̯~ʊə̯ ɔə̯~ɒ̝ə̯ ɔo̯~ɑɒ̯ ɑɒ̯~ɑ ɔ ɒː ɒː o̞ː ɒː aː~ä ɔː ɒ ɒ̈, o̞ː ɒ̈~ʌ̈, oː ɒ̈, oː CLOTH off[46]
ɔː ɔː o̞ː oː ɒː~ɑː oː~ɔː o̞ː~ɔː ɔː~ɔ̝ə̯~ɔuə̯ ɔə̯~ɔː~ɔ̝ː oː ɒː~ɔː ɔː ɒː~ɔː o̞ː ɒː~ɔː o̞ː ɔː~ɒː ɒː~ɔː~oː ɒː oː o̞ː oː ɒː ʌ̈ː THOUGHT law
oː~oʊ~ɔo o̟ː~o̞ː pause
ə ə ə~a̽~ɔ~ɪ~ɛ ə ə~ɐ ə~ə̝ ə~ɐ ə~ɔː ə ə~ɐ ə ɐ~a ə ə ə ə~ɐ ə ə[47] ə COMMA about
ɪ ɪ~iə̯ ɪ~ɪ̞~ɪ̈ ɪ ɪ̞ ɪ ɪ~ɪ̞~ɪ̈ ɪ~ɪ̈ ɪ ɪ~ɪjə~iə̯ ɪ ɪ~i i ɪ ɪ ɪ~i ɪ ɪ~i ɪ ɪ~ɪ̈ ɪ ɪ ɪ̞ ɪ ɪ̈~ë ə~ɘ ɛ ɪ ɪ̈ ɪ ɪ~ë̞~ə~ʌ ɪ ɪ ɪ̈ [47] ɪ~i ɪ ɪ̞ KIT bit
ɪ[47] i[47] kit
i ɪ~i i ɪ~i ɪi̯~i i ɪi̯~i ɪ~ɪ̈ ɪi̯~i i ɪ ɪi̯~iː ɪi̯~əi̯ iː i i iː~i əi̯~i i ɪi̯~iː iː ei~ɪi i ɪ~e i ɪ~e ɪi̯~iː i iː e iː ɪi̯ ɪi̯~əi̯ i e~ɪ~i i iː i iː HAPPY city
iː i i iː ɪi̯~i ɪi̯~i ɪi̯ ɪi̯~iː i əi̯~ɨi̯ əi~ɐi ɪi iː, ei̯ ɪi iː ɪi~iː iː, ɪ̈i̯ ~ ɪ̈ɪ̯ ɪi~iː ɪi̯ iː ɪi̯ iː i iː FLEECE see
eɪ eɪ̯~ɛɪ̯ eɪ̯ eː eɪ̯~ɛɪ̯ eː eɪ̯~e eɪ̯ eɪ̯~ɛɪ̯ eɪ̯ ɛɪ~ei ɛi̯~æ̠i̯ ɛɪ̯ æɪ̯~ɐɪ̯ ɐɪ̯~äɪ̯ eɪ̯~ɛɪ̯ eɪ̯~eː~ɛ eɪ̯ eː~ɛː eɪ̯ ɛi̯~aɪ̯~ɐɪ̯~ʌɪ̯ æɪ~aɪ ɛɪ̯~eɪ̯~ë̞ɪ̯ eɪ̯ eː~eɪ̯ ɛː~e̞ː eː~eɪ̯~ɪə̯ ɛː~e̞ː ɛɪ~e̞ɪ ɛː~e̞ː ɛɪ~e̞ɪ ɛː~e̞ː e̞ɪ̯ eː eː~ɪː, eə̯~ɪə̯ eː eː~eɪ̯~ɛɪ̯ ɛɪ̯ æe̯~ɐe̯ ɐe̯ eɪ̯~eː e eɪ̯~eː eɪ̯ eɪ̯~ɛɪ̯~æɪ̯ æɪ̯~äɪ̯~ʌɪ̯ e[48] eː ei̯ FACE date
e̞ɪ e̞ɪ e̞ɪ e̞ɪ eɪ̯ day
ɛ ɛ~eə̯ ɛ ɛ~æ ɛ~æ̝ ɛ ɛ ɛ~ɜ ɛ ɛ~e ɛ ɛ~eiə ɛ~ɛjə e̞ e̞~e e~e̝ ɛ ɛ~e e, eɪ~eə~ɛɪ ɛ~ɛ̞ ɛ e̞ ɛ̝ ɛ ɛ̝ə̯ ɛ e̞ e~e̝ e̝ ɛ e̞ e~e̝ ɛ, e[49] ɛ DRESS bed[50]
ɪ~iə̯, ɛ~eə̯ ɪ ɛ~ɪ ɪ~ɪjə~iə̯ ɛ pen
i length
ʌ ʌ~ɜ ʌ~ɐ ʌ ʌ~ɜ~ɛ̠ ɐ ʌ~ɜ~ɑ̈ ʌ~ɜ~ɐ ʌ~ɔ ʌ ɐ ʌ̈ ʌ ɜ ä~ɐ ʌ ʌ~ɜ~ɐ ɔ ʌ~ɔ ɒ~ʌ~ə~ɤ~ʊ ɐ̟~a ɐ~ʌ̟~ɐ̟ ʌ~ʌ̝ ʌ~ʊ ʊ ʊ̞~ɤ ʊ ʊ, ʌ̈ ʊ ɐ ɐ~ʌ̈~ɑ̈[51] ʌ~ɐ ə~ɜ~ɐ ɞ~ʌ̈ ʌ̈~ʊ ʊ ɤ~ʊ ʌ̈~ʊ ɐ~ä ʌ ʌ~ɐ ɐ~ä ä ə~ɜ STRUT run
ʊ ʊ~ʊ̜̈~ɵ~ø̞ ʊ ʊ~ɜ̠ ʊ~ʊ̞ ʊ ə~ɔ̝ ʊ ʊ̈~ʏ ʊ ʊ~u u ʊ ʊ~u ʊ ɤ~ʊ~ʊ̝ ʊ~ʊ̈ ʊ~ʊ̜̈ ʊ~ʊ̈ ʊ ʊ ɵ~ɤ̈ ʊ ʉ ʊ̈ ʊ ʊ ʊ~ʊ̈ ʊ ʉ ʊ ʊ~ɵ ʊ~u ʊ ɘ FOOT put
ʉː~ʊ ʊ uː~ʊ hood
uː ʊu̯~u u~ʊu̯~ɵu̯ u uː~ʉː~yː ʉ̠ː ʊ~uː u̟~ʊu̯~ʉu̯~ɵu̯ u~ɵu̯ ʊu̯~ɵu̯~yː u̟ː u~ʊu̯~ɤʊ̯~ɤu̯ ʉu̯ ʊu~ɵu~ʊ̈y~ʏy~ʉ̞u̟ ʊu̯ ʊ̈ʉ̯ ʊ̈ʉ̯~əʉ̯ ʉː uː ʉu̯ uː uː~ʉ əʉ̯~əu̯ əʉ~ʉː~ɨː~ʊː ʉː~ʉ̟ː~ʏː ʏ̝ː~ʉː uː~ʏː ʉː u̟ː~ʉː,ɵʊ̯ ʊu~uː ʏː ʉː ʉː, ɪ̈u̯~ɪ̈ʊ̯ ʊu~uː ʊu̯ ʊ̈ʉ̯~ʉː~ɨ̞ɯ̯̈ u uː uː ʊ̈ʉ̯ u u u̟ː ʉː~yː ʉː u uː GOOSE through
ɪu̯[52] threw
juː (j)ʊu̯~(j)u (j)u~(j)ʊu̯~(j)ɵu̯ (j)uː~(j)ʉː~(j)yː (j)ʉ̠ː (j)ʊ~(j)u: (j)u̟~(j)ʊu̯~(j)ʉu̯~(j)ɵu̯ (j)u~(j)ɵu̯ (j)ʊu̯~(j)ɵu̯~(j)yː ju̟ː (j)u~(j)ʊu̯~(j)ɤʊ̯~(j)ɤu̯ (j)ʉu̯ jʊu~jɵu~jʊ̈y~jʏy~jʉ̞u̟ (j)ʊu~(j)ɵu~(j)ʊ̈y~(j)ʏy~(j)ʉ̞u̟ jʊu̯ jʊ̈ʉ̯ jʊ̈ʉ̯~jəʉ̯ jʉː juː (j)ʉu̯ juː juː~jʉ jəʉ̯~jəu̯ jəʉ~jʉː~jɨː~jʊː jʉː~jʉ̟ː~jʏː jʏ̝ː~jʉː (j)uː jʉː ju̟ː~jʉː,jɵʊ̯ jʊu~juː jʏː jʉː jʉː, jɪ̈u̯~jɪ̈ʊ̯ jʊu~juː jʊu̯ jʊ̈ʉ̯~jʉː~jɨ̞ɯ̯̈ ju juː jʉ jʊ̈ juː jʊ̈ʉ̯ ju jʉ ju ju̟ː jʉː~jyː jʉː ju cute
aɪ äɪ̯ ɐɪ̯[53] ɑɪ̯~aː äɪ~aɪ æɪ~aɪ~äɪ ɐɪ̯ ʌɪ̯~ɜɪ̯~ɐɪ̯[53] aɪ̯~äː äɪ̯ äɪ̯ ɐɪ̯ ai~aæ ɐi~äɪ~äɛ~äː äɪ̯ ɑ̟e̯~ɑe̯ ɑe̯~ɒe̯ ɑɪ̯ ʌɪ̯ ʌɪ̯~ɜɪ̯~ɐɪ̯[53] a̽i aɪ̯~ɑɪ̯~ɒɪ̯ aɪ̯~ɒɪ̯~ɔɪ̯ ɑɪ̯~ɒɪ̯~ɑ̟ə̯~ɑ̟ː a̠ɪ̯~ɑɪ̯~ɑ̹ɪ̯ æː~aɪ̯~ɐɪ̯ ɒɪ̯~ɑɪ̯~əɪ̯ aɪ~äɪ äi̯ aɪ~äɪ aɪ̯~ɑɪ̯~aː äɪ~äː äɪ̯ ɑ̈ɪ̯~ʌ̞ɪ̯ ɐe̯ äɪ̯ ɐi̯~ɜi̯[53] æɪ̯~ɐɪ̯ əɪ̯~ɐɪ̯ ɑɪ̯~ɐɪ̯ aɪ̯~ɑɪ̯ ɑ̟ɪ̯ ɑe̯ ɒe̯ ɑɪ̯ ɜi̯, äe̯ ɑɪ̯ äɪ̯ äɪ̯~äː ɑɪ̯~ɑ̟ː ai̯ ɐ̟ɪ̯ ɜɪ̯ ɜi̯ PRICE flight
äː~äe̯~aː äɪ̯ äɪ̯ aɪ̯~ae̯~æɪ̯ ɑɪ̯~ɒɪ̯~äɪ̯ äɪ̯ aɪ~æɛ~aæ äː~äɛ ɑɪ̯ äe̯~ɜi̯ my
ɔɪ oɪ̯ ɔɪ̯~oɪ̯ ɔɪ̯ ɔɪ̯~oɪ̯ ɔɪ̯ oɪ̯ ɔɪ̯ ɔɪ̯~oɪ̯ ɔoɪ oi̯ o̞ɪ̯ oɪ̯ oɪ̯~ɑɪ̯ oɪ̯~ʌɪ̯ ɔɪ̯ oi ɔɪ̯~oɪ̯ ɔ̝ɪ~oɪ ɔɪ̯~oɪ̯ ɔ̝ɪ̯~oɪ̯ ɔɪ̯~oɪ̯ ɔɪ oe̯ ɔɪ oɪ ɔɪ ɔɪ̯ əɪ̯~ɑɪ̯ aɪ̯~äɪ̯ ɒɪ̯~oɪ̯ ɒɪ̯ oɪ̯ oe̯ ɔɪ̯ oi̯ ɔɪ̯ ɔɪ̯~ɒɪ̯ ɔɪ̯ ɔi̯ ɔɪ̯ ɒɪ̯ ʌ̈i̯ CHOICE boy
oʊ ʌʊ̯~ɔʊ̯ oʊ̯~ɔʊ̯ oː oʊ̯~ʌʊ̯~o̞ o̞~o oʊ̯~ʌʊ̯~o̞ ʌo̯~oʊ̯~o oʊ̯~oː oʊ̯ oʊ̯~ʌ̈ʊ̯ ɘʊ̯~ɜʊ̯ ɔu~ɒu ɜʊ~ɜʊ̈~ɜʏ~ɘʊ̯ ɵ̞ʊ̯ ɜʉ̯~ɐʉ̯ ɐʉ̯~äʉ̯ oʊ̯~ɵʊ̯ oː~oə̯ oʊ̯ o əʊ̯ ʌʊ̯~ɐʊ̯~aʊ̯ æ̈ɤ̈~æ̈ɤ̝̈~ɐɤ̈~ɐɤ̝̈~
æ̈ʊ~ɐʊ~aʊ~ɐø~
œ̈ø~ʌ̈ː~œ̈ 		əʏ̯~əʊ̯ oː~oʊ̯~ɵʊ̯ oʊ̯ oː~ɔː oː~ʊə̯~ɵː oː~ɔː ɔʊ~ɔo oː~ɔː ɛʉ̯~ɛʊ̯~eʉ̯~
eʊ̯~əʉ̯~əʊ̯ 		oː~ɔː əʊ̯ əʉ̯ oː ʌo̯~ʌɔ̯ əʊ̯ oʊ̯~əʊ̯ ɵʊ̯ ɜʉ̯~ɐʉ̯ ɐʉ̯ oː~oʊ̯ o̝ oː~oʊ̯ ɛʊ̯~œʊ̯ œʉ̯~œɤ̯̈~œː ʌʊ̯ o[48] oː ɘu̯ GOAT no
ou̯ oʊ̯ tow
ɔʊ̯~oː oʊ̯~ʌʊ̯~ɔʊ̯~oː ɔʊ̯~oː oː~oʊ̯ ɔu̯ ɒʊ̯~ɔʊ̯ ɒʊ~ɔo~aɤ ɒʊ̯~ɒɤ̯ ɔʊ̯ ɒʊ̯~ɔʊ̯ ɔo̯ soul
aʊ æɔ̯~æə̯ ɐʊ̯[53] aʊ̯~aː äʊ̯ äʊ̯~aʊ̯~æʊ̯ äʊ̯~ɐʊ̯ æʊ̯ ɑ̈ʊ̯ aʊ̯~æʊ̯ æʊ̯~ɛɔ̯ æɒ~æɔ æɒ̯~ɛjɔ~ɜʊ̯ äʊ̯ aɔ̯~ao̯~æɔ̯~æo̯ æo̯~æə̯~ɛo̯~ɛə̯ ao̯~ɑə̯~aɵ~aɛ̯ ʌʊ̯ ʌʊ̯~ɜʊ̯[53] a̽u aʊ̯ æə̯~æʊ̯~ɛʉ̯~ɛ̝̈ʊ̯ æʊ~æə~æː~aː~æiə æʊ̯~æʏ̯~aʊ̯~aʏ̯ ɑʊ̯~aː æy~ɐʏ̯~ɐʊ̯~ɛɪ̯ aʊ äu̯~æu̯~ɛu̯~əu̯~uː aʊ ɐʊ aʊ ɑ̟ʊ̯ aʊ̯ aɔ̯ äʊ̯ ɐʏ̯~ɜʉ̯ ɐʊ̯~ʌʊ̯ ɛʊ̯ aʊ̯~ɛʊ̯ aʊ̯ æo̯ ɛo̯~ɛə̯ ɑʊ̯ ɜʉ̯ ɑʊ̯ äʊ̯ äː æʊ̯ au̯ ɐu̯ ɜʊ̯ ɑ̟u̯ MOUTH about
ɑ̟ʊ̯ äʊ̯~ɑʊ̯ now
ɑːr ɑ(ɹ)~ɒ(ɹ) ɑɹ~ɒɹ a(ɹ)~ä(ɹ) ɑ(ɹ)~a(ɹ) ɑɹ ɑɹ~ɒɹ ɑɹ äɻ~ɐɻ ɑɹ ɑ̟ə̯(ɹ) ɒə̯(ɹ) äə̯(ɹ) ɑɹ~ɒɹ ɑɹ ɑː(ɹ)~ɒː(ɹ) ɑɹ~ɒɹ äː(ɹ) äː(ɹ)~ɐː(ɹ) ɑː(ɹ) aːɹ ɑɹ~ɐɹ a̽~a̽ː ɑː(ɾ) ɑː(ɹ) ɑː(ɹ)~ɑ̟ː(ɹ)~ɑ̹ː(ɹ) ɑː(ɹ) äɻ äː(ɹ) ɒː(ɾ)~ɑː(ɹ) äː(ɹ) aː(ɾ)~ɑː(ɾ) äː(ɹ) ɑ̟ː(ɹ) ɑ̈ː(ɹ)~ʌ̞ː(ɹ) ɑː(ɹ) äː(ɾ) ɑɻ æːɹ~aɹ äːɹ~ɑɹ ɐː(ɹ)~äː(ɹ) ɑɹ äɾ ɑː(ɾ) ɑ̟ː(ɹ) ɑː(ɹ) ɒː(ɾ)~ɔː(ɾ) ä(ɹ) aː(ɾ) aː(ɹ)~æː(ɹ) START arm
ɪər iə̯(ɹ)~iɤ̯(ɹ) iɹ ɪə̯(ɹ)~ɪɐ̯(ɹ) i(ɹ)~ɪ(ɹ) ɪɹ~iɹ iɻ~iə̯ɻ iɹ ɪə̯(ɹ) ɪə̯(ɹ)~iə̯(ɹ) ɪɹ~iɹ iɹ i(ɹ) iɹ ɪə̯(ɹ) ɪə̯(ɹ)~ɪː(ɹ)~iː(ɹ)~iə̯(ɹ) iː(ɹ)~iə̯(ɹ) iə̯(ɹ)~eə̯(ɹ) eːɹ ɪɹ ia̽ iə̯(ɾ)~ɪə̯(ɾ) ɘiɐ(ɹ)~iə̯(ɹ)~ɪə̯(ɹ)~ɜː(ɹ) iə(ɹ)~ɪː(ɹ)~ɪiɐ(ɹ) ɪː(ɹ)~ɪə̯(ɹ) ɪː(ɹ) iɻ ɪə(ɹ) iɐ̯(ɹ) ɪə iɛ̯(ɾ) ɪə̯(ɹ) ɪ̞ː(ɹ)~ɪə̯(ɹ) ɪə̯(ɹ)~iə̯(ɹ) ɪə̯(ɾ)~iː(ɾ) iːɹ ɪə̯(ɹ) ɪə̯(ɹ)[54] ɪɹ~iɹ iə̯ɾ ɪə̯(ɾ)~iə̯(ɾ) ɪə̯(ɹ) ɪə̯(ɾ)~ɪː(ɾ) iə̯(ɹ) iːə(ɾ)~jøː(ɾ) iːə(ɹ)~jøː(ɹ) NEAR deer
ɛər ɛə̯(ɹ) ɛɹ ɛə̯(ɹ)~ɛɐ̯(ɹ) ɛ(ɹ)~æ(ɹ) eɹ eɹ~ɛɹ eə̯ɻ~eɻ eɹ ɛə̯(ɹ) ɛə̯(ɹ)~eə̯(ɹ) ɛɹ~eɹ eɹ ɛ(j)(ɹ) e̞ɹ~ɛ(j)ɹ e̞ə̯(ɹ) e̞ː(ɹ)~eː(ɹ) eː(ɹ)~e̝ː(ɹ) eə̯(ɹ) ɛɹ ɛ ɛə̯(ɾ) ɛə̯(ɹ)~ɛː(ɹ)~ɜː(ɹ) ɛ̝ə(ɹ)~ɛː(ɹ)~ɛiə(ɹ) ɛ̝ː(ɹ)~e̞ː(ɹ) ɛː(ɹ) eɻ ɛː(ɹ) ɪː(ɾ)~eː(ɾ)~ëː(ɾ)~ɛː(ɾ)~
ɛ̈ː(ɾ)~œː(ɾ)~əː(ɾ)~
ɘː(ɾ)~ɜː(ɾ)~ɵː(ɾ) 		ɛː(ɹ) ɛə̯(ɹ) ɛː(ɹ)~ɛə̯(ɹ) ɛə̯(ɹ) ɛə̯(ɾ)~eː(ɾ) ɚː ɛːɹ eːɹ e̞ə̯(ɹ) ɛɹ eə̯ɾ ɛə̯(ɾ)~ɛɐ̯(ɾ) ɛə̯(ɹ) ɛə̯(ɹ)~ɛː(ɹ)~eː(ɹ) eː(ɾ)~e̝ː(ɾ) ɛ(ɹ) ɛː(ɾ) ɛː(ɹ)~eː(ɹ) SQUARE mare
ɜːr ɚ ɚ əː(ɹ) ɚ ʌə(ɹ)~ʌɹ ɝ ɚ ɚ~ɝ ɚ~əɻ ɚ ɜː(ɹ)~əː(ɹ) ɚ əɪ̯ ɚ ɜ(ɹ) ɚ~ɐɹ əː(ɹ) əː(ɹ)~ɘː(ɹ) ɘː(ɹ)~ɵː(ɹ) ə(ɹ)~ɜ(ɹ)~ɜi̯(ɹ) ɤ ɚ ɛ~ɔ əː(ɾ) ɵ̝ː(ɹ)~əː(ɹ)~ɜː(ɹ) ɜː(ɹ)~ɜ̟ː(ɹ)~œ̈ː(ɹ) ɜː(ɹ)~əː(ɹ) əː(ɹ) ɜɻ ɜː~ɛ øː(ɹ)~ɪː(ɹ)~əː(ɹ)~ɔː(ɹ) ɜː~ɛ ɜː~ɛ əː(ɹ)~ɐː(ɹ) əː(ɹ) əː(ɹ)~ɐː(ɹ) ɜː(ɾ)~äɾ ɚː ɚː[55] ɚː ʊːɹ[55] ɚː ɵː(ɹ) ɚ ʌɾ[55] əː(ɾ)~ɐː(ɾ) əː(ɹ)~ɐː(ɹ) ø̈ː(ɹ)~ø̞̈ː(ɹ) ø̈ː(ɾ)~ø̞̈ː(ɾ) ə(ɹ) əː(ɾ) øː(ɾ) øː(ɹ) NURSE burn
ɪɾ~ʌɾ[55] bird
əɹ ɛːɹ[55] ɛːɹ[55] ɛɾ[55] earth
ər ə(ɹ) ə(ɹ) ɚ ɚ ə(ɹ) ə(ɹ) ə(ɹ) ɚ ə(ɹ) ə~a̽~ɔ~ɪ~ɛ œ(ɾ)~ə(ɾ) ə(ɹ)~ɐ(ɹ) ə(ɹ)~ə̝(ɹ) ə(ɹ)~ɐ(ɹ) əɻ ə(ɹ)~ɜ(ɹ) ə(ɹ) ɐ(ɹ)~a(ɹ) ə(ɾ) ɚ ə(ɹ) əɾ ə(ɾ)~ɐ(ɾ) ə(ɹ) ə(ɾ) ə(ɾ) ə(ɹ) LETTER winner[56]
ʌə(ɹ)~ʌɹ donor
ɔːr oə̯(ɹ)~ɔə̯(ɹ)~ɔo̯(ɹ) oɹ ɔə̯(ɹ)~ɒə̯(ɹ)~ɒ(ɹ) ɔə(ɹ)~ɔɹ ɔɹ~oɹ oɹ~ɔɹ oɹ~ɔɹ ɔɻ~oɻ oɹ~ɔɹ ɔə̯(ɹ) oɐ̯(ɹ)~ɔə̯(ɹ) oɹ~ɔɹ ɔə̯(ɹ) ɔɹ o̞ː(ɹ) oː(ɹ) ɔə̯(ɹ) ɒːɹ~ɑːɹ ɔɹ ɔ ɑː(ɾ)~əː(ɾ) o̞ː(ɹ)~ɔː(ɹ) ɔː(ɹ)~ɔ̝ə(ɹ)~ɔuə(ɹ), oː(ɹ)~oʊ(ɹ)~ɔo(ɹ) o̟ː~o̞ː, ɔə̯(ɹ)~ɔː(ɹ)~ɔ̝ː oː(ɹ) ɔɻ~oɻ ɔː(ɹ)~ɒː(ɹ) ɔː(ɹ) ɔː(ɹ)~ɒː(ɹ) o̞ː(ɹ) ɔː(ɹ)~ɒː(ɹ) o̞ː(ɹ) oː(ɹ) ɔː(ɾ)~ɒː(ɾ) ɔːɹ äːɹ~ɑːɹ ɒːɹ~oːɹ oː(ɹ) oɹ ɔɾ oː(ɾ) o̞ː(ɹ) oː(ɹ) oː(ɾ) ɔ(ɹ) ɒː(ɾ) ʌ̈ː(ɹ) NORTH sort
ɔə̯(ɹ)~oɐ̯(ɹ) o(u)ə(ɹ) o(u)ɹ oə̯(ɹ) oːɹ oː(ɾ)~əː(ɾ) o̞ː(ɹ)~ɔː(ɹ), ʌʊ̯ə(ɹ) oːɹ ɔːɹ ɒːɹ oːɹ o̝(ə̯)ɾ oː(ɾ) FORCE tore
ʊər ʊə̯(ɹ)~ʊɐ̯(ɹ) uə(ɹ)~ʊə(ɹ) ʊɹ~ɔɹ~oɹ ʊɹ~ɔɹ~oɹ uɻ~oɻ uɹ~ɚ ʊə̯(ɹ) uə̯(ɹ) uɹ~ɚ ʊə̯(ɹ) ʊ̈ʉ̯ə(ɹ), oː(ɹ) uə̯(ɹ) ʊɹ~ɔɹ uə̯(ɾ) ɘua(ɹ)~ɘʉa(ɹ)~ʊa̯(ɹ)~ʊə̯(ɹ), ɔː(ɹ)~o̞ː(ɹ) ʊə(ɹ)~ʊː(ɹ), ɔː(ɹ)~ɔ̝ə(ɹ)~ɔuə(ɹ), oː(ɹ)~oʊ(ɹ)~ɔo(ɹ) ʊə(ɹ) uɐ̯(ɹ) ʊə(ɹ) uɛ̯(ɾ)~ɪ̈u̯ə(ɾ)~ɪ̈ʊ̯ə(ɾ)~
o̞ː(ɾ) 		ʊə̯(ɹ) ɵː(ɹ)~ɤ̈ː(ɹ), o̞ː(ɹ) oə̯(ɹ) ʊə̯(ɾ)~uː(ɾ) uːɹ ʊə̯(ɹ) ʊ̈ʉ̯ə(ɹ), oː(ɹ) oɚ ʉɾ oə̯(ɾ)~oɐ̯(ɾ) ʊə̯(ɹ) ʊə̯(ɹ)~oː(ɹ) uə̯(ɹ) uːə(ɾ) uːə(ɹ)~ʌ̈ː(ɹ) CURE tour
jʊər juə̯(ɹ)~jʊə̯(ɹ) juɹ~jʊɹ jʊə̯(ɹ)~jʊɐ̯(ɹ) juə(ɹ)~jʊə(ɹ) jʊɹ~jɔɹ~joɹ jʊɹ~jɔɹ~joɹ~jɚ jʊɹ~juɹ~jɚ jɚ jʊ~juɹ~jɚ jʊə̯(ɹ) juɐ̯(ɹ)~juə̯(ɹ) juɹ jɔɹ~joɹ~jɚ juə̯(ɹ) juɹ~jɚ jʊə̯(ɹ) jʊ̈ʉ̯ə(ɹ), joː(ɹ) juə̯(ɹ) joːɹ jɚ~jʊɹ~jɵɹ jɔ juə̯(ɾ) jɘua(ɹ)~jɘʉa(ɹ)~jʊa̯(ɹ)~jʊə̯(ɹ), jɔː(ɹ)~jo̞ː(ɹ) jʊə(ɹ)~jʊː(ɹ), jɔː(ɹ)~jɔ̝ə(ɹ)~jɔuə(ɹ), joː(ɹ)~joʊ(ɹ)~jɔo(ɹ) jʉ̜ə̯(ɹ)~jʊ̜ə̯(ɹ)~jɔ̝ː(ɹ) joː(ɹ) jʊɻ jʊə(ɹ) juɐ̯(ɹ) jʊə(ɹ) jo̞ː(ɾ) jʊə̯(ɹ) jɵː(ɹ)~jɤ̈ː(ɹ), jo̞ː(ɹ) joə̯(ɹ) jʊə̯(ɾ)~juː(ɾ) juːɹ jʊə̯(ɹ) jʊ̈ʉ̯ə(ɹ), joː(ɹ) joɚ jʉɾ joə̯(ɾ)~joɐ̯(ɾ) jʊə̯(ɹ) jʊə̯(ɹ)~joː(ɹ) joː(ɾ) jɔ(ɹ) ɪuːə(ɾ) juːə(ɹ)~jʌ̈ː(ɹ) pure
Other symbols used in transcription of English pronunciation
IPA Explanation
ˈ Primary stress indicator (placed before the stressed syllable); for example, rapping /ˈræpɪŋ/
ˌ Secondary stress/full vowel indicator (placed before the stressed syllable); for example, pronunciation /prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
. Syllable separation indicator; for example, ice cream /ˈaɪs.kriːm/ vs. I scream /ˌaɪ.ˈskriːm/
̩ ̍ Syllabic consonant indicator (placed under the syllabic consonant); for example, ridden [ˈɹɪdn̩]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b This is a compromise IPA transcription, which covers most dialects of English.
  2. ^ /t/, is pronounced [ɾ] in some positions in GA and Australian English, and is possible in RP in words like better, [ʔ] in some positions in Scottish English, English English, American English and Australian English, and [t̞] non-initially in Irish English.
  3. ^ /d/ is pronounced [ɾ] if preceded and followed by vowels in GA and Australian English.
  4. ^ The labiodental fricative /f/ is often pronounced as bilabial [ɸ] after the bilabials /p/, /b/, and /m/, as in up-front GA: [ʌpˈɸɹʌnt], Cub fan GA: [ˈkʰʌbɸæn], tomfoolery GA: [ˌtʰɑmˈɸuɫəɹi].
  5. ^ The labiodental fricative /v/ is often pronounced as bilabial [β] after the bilabials /p/, /b/, and /m/, as in upvote GA: [ˈʌpβəʊt], obviate GA: [ˈɑbβiˌeɪt], Humvee GA: [ˈhʌmβi].
  6. ^ /θ/ is pronounced as a dental stop [t̪] in Irish English, Newfoundland English, Indian English, and New York English, merges with /f/ in some varieties of English English, and merges with /t/ in some varieties of Caribbean English. The dental stop [t̪] also occurs in other dialects as an allophone of /θ/.
  7. ^ /ð/ is pronounced as a dental stop [d̪] in Irish English, Newfoundland English, Indian English, and New York English, merges with /v/ in some varieties of English English, and merges with /d/ in some varieties of Caribbean English. [d̪] also occurs in other dialects as an allophone of /ð/.
  8. ^ The glottal fricative /h/ is often pronounced as voiced [ɦ] between vowel sounds and after voiced consonants. Initial voiced [ɦ] occurs in some accents of the Southern Hemisphere.
  9. ^ /h/ is pronounced [ç] before the palatal approximant /j/, sometimes even replacing the cluster /hj/, and sometimes before high front vowels.
  10. ^ The bilabial nasal /m/ is often pronounced as labiodental [ɱ] before /f/ and /v/, as in symphony GA: [ˈsɪɱfəni], circumvent GA: [ˌsɝkəɱˈvɛnt], some value GA: [ˌsʌɱ‿ˈvæɫju̟].
  11. ^ In some dialects, such as Brummie, words like ringer [ˈɹɪŋə], sing [sɪŋ], which have a velar nasal [ŋ] in most dialects, are pronounced with an additional /ɡ/, like "finger": [ˈɹɪŋɡə].
  12. ^ Velarized [ɫ] traditionally does not occur in Irish English; clear or plain [l] does not occur in Australian, New Zealand, Scottish, or American English. RP, some other English accents, and South African English, however, have clear [l] in syllable onsets and dark [ɫ] in syllable rimes.
  13. ^ a b c Sonorants are voiceless after a fortis (voiceless) stop at the beginning of a stressed syllable.
  14. ^ L-vocalization in which l is pronounced as a kind of a back vowel ([ɤ] or [o], or non-syllabic [ɤ̯, o̯], forming a diphthong with the preceding vowel) occurs in New Zealand English and many regional accents, such as African-American Vernacular English, Cockney, New York English, Estuary English, Pittsburgh English, Standard Singapore English.
  15. ^ /r/ is pronounced as a tap [ɾ] in some varieties of Scottish, Irish, Indian, Welsh, Northern England and South African English.
  16. ^ The alveolar trill [r] only occurs in some varieties of Scottish, Welsh, Indian and South African English.
  17. ^ R-labialization, in which r is pronounced as [ʋ], is found in some accents in Southern England.
  18. ^ Some dialects, such as Scottish English, Irish English, and many American South and New England dialects, distinguish voiceless [ʍ] from voiced [w]; see wine–whine merger and voiceless labiovelar approximant.
  19. ^ Marginal in most accents, and otherwise merged with /k/, see Lock–loch merger.
  20. ^ This common English interjection is usually pronounced with [x] in unscripted spoken English, but it is most often read /ʌɡ/ or /ʌk/
  21. ^ ɬ only exists in Welsh English as an allophone of /l/ in Welsh loan words. Other dialects usually replace it with l.
  22. ^ Harrington, Cox & Evans (1997)
  23. ^ Cox & Palethorpe (2007)
  24. ^ Boberg (2004)
  25. ^ Todd, Loreto (1982). Cameroon. John Benjamins Publishing. ISBN 9789027286703.
  26. ^ Sailaja (2009:19–26)
  27. ^ Wells (1982:422)
  28. ^ a b Mannell, Cox & Harrington (2009)
  29. ^ Bauer et al. (2007:97–102)
  30. ^ Scobbie, Gordeeva & Matthews (2006:7)
  31. ^ Bekker (2008)
  32. ^ Lass (2002:111–119)
  33. ^ Coupland & Thomas (1990:93–136)
  34. ^ Kenyon & Knott (1953)
  35. ^ Kenyon (1950)
  36. ^ Wells (1982:364)
  37. ^ Roach (2004:241–243)
  38. ^ "Case Studies – Received Pronunciation Phonology – RP Vowel Sounds". British Library. Archived from the original on 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  39. ^ "The British English vowel system". 8 March 2012.
  40. ^ Fox, Susan (2015). The New Cockney: New Ethnicities and Adolescent Speech in the Traditional East End of London.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i In most of the United States (with high dialectal variation), and to a lesser degree in Canada, special /æ/ tensing systems occur.
  42. ^ a b c d e See bad–lad split for this distinction.
  43. ^ Suzanna Bet Hashim and Brown, Adam (2000) 'The [e] and [æ] vowels in Singapore English'. In Adam Brown, David Deterding and Low Ee Ling (eds.) The English Language in Singapore: Research on Pronunciation, Singapore: Singapore Association for Applied Linguistics ISBN 981-04-2598-8, pp. 84–92.
  44. ^ Deterding, David (2007). Singapore English. United Kingdom: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 24–26. ISBN 978-0-7486-3096-7.
  45. ^ ɒ~ɔ occurs in American accents without the cot–caught merger (about half of today's speakers); the rest have ɑ.
  46. ^ In American accents without the cot–caught merger, the LOT vowel (generally written o) appears as ɒ~ɔ instead of ɑ before the fricatives /f/, /θ/ and /s/ and the velar nasal /ŋ/; also usually before /ɡ/, especially in single-syllable words (dog, log, frog, etc.), and occasionally before /k/ (as in chocolate). See Lot–cloth split. In American accents with the cot–caught merger (about half of today's speakers), only ɑ occurs.
  47. ^ a b c d It is not clear whether this a true phonemic split, since the distribution of the two sounds is predictable; see Kit–bit split.
  48. ^ a b Deterding, David (2000) 'Measurements of the /eɪ/ and /oʊ/ vowels of young English speakers in Singapore'. In Adam Brown, David Deterding and Low Ee Ling (eds.), The English Language in Singapore: Research on Pronunciation, Singapore: Singapore Association for Applied Linguistics, pp. 93–99.
  49. ^ Mary W.J. Tay (1982). "'The phonology of educated Singapore English'". English World-Wide. 3 (2): 135–45. doi:10.1075/eww.3.2.02tay.
  50. ^ Often transcribed /e/ for RP, for example in Collins English Dictionary.
  51. ^ The STRUT vowel in BrE is highly variable in the triangle defined by ə, ʌ and ɑ, see 'STRUT for Dummies'
  52. ^ In Welsh English, you, yew and ewe are /juː/, /jɪu/ and /ɪu/ respectively; in most other varieties of English they are homophones.
  53. ^ a b c d e f Some dialects of North American English have a vowel shift called Canadian raising, in which the first element of the diphthongs /aɪ, aʊ/ is raised in certain cases, yielding [ʌɪ̯, ʌʊ̯] or [əɪ̯, əʊ̯]. Canadian English has raising of both diphthongs, but most dialects in the United States only have raising of /aɪ/. In monosyllables, raising occurs before voiceless consonants, so right [ɹʌɪ̯t] and out [ʌʊ̯t] have raised vowels, but eyes [aɪz] and loud [laʊd] do not.
  54. ^ Merging NEAR and SQUARE is especially common amongst young New Zealanders.
  55. ^ a b c d e f g See Fern–fir–fur merger for this distinction in some varieties.
  56. ^ Sometimes transcribed for GA as [əɹ], especially in transcriptions that represent both rhotic and non-rhotic pronunciations, as [ə(ɹ)].

References

Categories