British English Pronunciation guide.
31 Mar 2008This list contains the main sounds of standard British English. This pronunciation guide can be very helpful for Asian learners and those in Thailand, China and the region. For those studying for speaking exams it may also be useful. Of course it is mostly extra material for IELTS exam and TOEFL exam students are the regions including Asia.
CONSONANTS
The following letters have their usual values in English:
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w, z.
| IPA | Text | Examples | IPA | Text | Examples | |
| ɡ | g | get, go, guard | tʃ | tS | chip, chin, nature | |
| dʒ | dZ | judge, soldier | x | x | Scots loch | |
| ŋ | N | sing, ring, finger | θ | T | thin, thick, strength | |
| ð | D | then, bathe, lather | ʃ | S | she, sugar, machine | |
| ʒ | Z | pleasure, vision | j | j | yet, use, beauty |
SHORT VOWELS
| IPA | Text | Examples | IPA | Text | Examples | |
| æ | a | cat, bad, trap | ɛ | e | bed, net, dress | |
| ə | @ | about, comma | ɪ | I | kit, bid, hymn | |
| i | i | happy, glorious | ɒ | Q | hot, odd, wash | |
| ʌ | V | dug, run, strut | ʊ | U | book, put, foot |
LONG VOWELS
| IPA | Text | Examples | IPA | Text | Examples | |
| ɑː | A: | cart, arm, father | iː | i: | meet, see, fleece | |
| ɜː | 3: | her, nurse, learn | uː | u: | boot, too, group | |
| ɔː | O: | port, saw, thaw |
DIPHTHONGS/TRIPHTHONGS
| IPA | Text | Examples | IPA | Text | Examples | |
| aɪ | aI | bite, my, price | aʊ | aU | brow, how, mouth | |
| eɪ | eI | fate, day, break | əʊ | @U | goat, show, no | |
| ɪə | I@ | pier, near, weary | ɔɪ | OI | boil, choice, boy | |
| ʊə | U@ | tour, poor, jury | eə | e@ | hair, dare, various | |
| aʊə | aU@ | sour, cower, flour | aɪə | aI@ | fire, buyer, liar |
OTHER SYMBOLS
| IPA | Text | Purpose |
| ˈ | ’ | Precedes the syllable which has the primary stress |
| ˌ | , | Precedes a syllable which has a secondary stress |
| ( ) | ( ) | Surround an optional sound |
| ʔ | ? | Glottal stop |
SOME FRENCH VOWEL SOUNDS
| IPA | Text | Examples | IPA | Text | Examples | |
| ø | 2 | jeu | ɔ | O | bottes, bol | |
| œ | 9 | oeuf, soeur | y | y | sucre, tu | |
| ɑ̃ | a~ | banque, sans | ɛ̃ | e~ | cinq, saint | |
| ɔ̃ | o~ | bonbons, son | œ̃ | 9~ | un, lundi, brun |
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