This 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

[NAVT group=Forum]

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