This table contains all the sounds (phonemes) used in the English language. For each sound, it gives:
· The symbol in the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), as used in phonetic transcriptions in modern dictionaries for English learners — that is, A. C. Gimson's phonemic system with a few additional symbols.
The table represents British and American phonemes with one symbol. One symbol can mean two different phonemes in American and British English. See the footnotes for British-only and American-only symbols.
· Two English words which use the sound. The underline shows where the sound is heard.
· The links labeled Amer and Brit play sound recordings (in mp3 format) where the words are pronounced in American and British English. The British version is given only where it is very different from the American version.
If you would like to print the table, use the pretty printable version.
vowels
IPA
words
listen
cup, luck
Amer
arm, father
Amer / Brit
cat, black
met, bed
1
away, cinema
2
turn, learn
hit, sitting
see, heat
hot, rock
3
call, four
4
put, could
blue, food
five, eye
now, out
go, home
5
where, air
6
say, eight
near, here
boy, join
pure, tourist
consonants
bad, lab
did, lady
find, if
give, flag
how, hello
yes, yellow
cat, back
leg, little
Amer...
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