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Phonetic alphabet - examples of sounds


The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system where each symbol is associated with a particular English sound. By using IPA you can know exactly how to pronounce a certain word in English. This helps in improving English pronunciation and feeling more confident speaking in English, whether you learn English on you own or with a specialist teacher in an individual English Accent Training class. We also run online English courses in virtual groups, and immersion courses in London.

Here are examples of IPA use in common English words. You can practice various vowel and consonant sounds by pronouncing the words. This is one way how you can improve English pronunciation.

Download examples of IPA sounds (PDF) 

International Phonetic Alphabet Sounds In Everyday Speech       

Short Vowels

IPA SymbolWord examples
eWent, intend, send, letter.
æCat, hand, nap, flat, have.
ʌFun, love, money, one, London, come.
ʊPut, look, should, cook, book, look.
ɒRob, top, watch, squat, sausage.
əAlive, again, mother.

Long Vowels

IPA SymbolWord examples
i:Need, beat, team.
ɜ:Nurse, heard, third, turn.
ɔ:Talk, law, bored, yawn, jaw.
u:Few, boot, lose, gloomy, fruit, chew.
ɑ: Fast, car, hard, bath.

Diphthong Vowels

IPA Symbol 

Word examples 

ɪə 

Near, ear, clear, tear, beer, fear 

eə 

Hair, there, care, stairs, pear 

eɪ 

Face, space, rain , case, eight 

ɔɪ 

Joy, employ, toy, coil, oyster. 

aɪ 

My, sight, pride, kind, flight 

əʊ 

No, don’t, stones, alone, hole 

aʊ 

Mouth, house, brown, cow, out 

Consonants Sounds: Fricatives

IPA Symbol 

Word examples 

Full, Friday, fish, knife. 

Vest, village, view, cave. 

θ 

    Thought, think, Bath. 

ð  

    There, those, brothers, others. 

Zoo, crazy, lazy, zigzag, nose. 

ʃ 

Shirt, rush, shop, cash. 

ʒ 

Television, delusion, casual 

High, help, hello. 

Consonants Sounds: Plosives

IPA SymbolWord examples
pPin, cap, purpose, pause.
bBag, bubble, build, robe.
tTime, train, tow, late.
dDoor, day, drive, down, feed.
kCash, quick, cricket, sock.
gGirl, green, grass, flag.

Consonants Sounds: Affricates

IPA SymbolWord examples
ʈʃChoose, cheese, church, watch.
Joy, juggle, juice, stage.

Consonants Sounds: Nasals

IPA SymbolWord examples
mRoom, mother, mad, more.
nNow, nobody, knew, turn.
ŋKing, thing, song, swimming.


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Consonants Sounds: Approximants

IPA SymbolWord examples
rRoad, roses, river, ring, ride.
jYellow, usual, tune, yesterday, yard.
wWall, walk, wine, world.
l and ɫLaw, lots, leap, long, pill, cold, chill, melt.



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