Understanding English Vowel Sounds
VOWELS: A vowel sound is produced when air flows through the vocal cords in the larynx, causing them to vibrate. The sound is then shaped by the tongue and lips, modifying the mouth’s overall shape. The tongue’s position is a key reference point for distinguishing between different vowel sounds.
/iː/ – Long Vowel
Fully spread lips, closed jaw, tongue position: high front, tense sound. The front part of the tongue is raised slightly below and behind the close front position. The lips are spread, the tongue is tense, and the side rims make firm contact with the upper molars. Examples: TREE, BE, KEY, POLICE, LEAF.
/ɪ/ – Short Vowel
Neutral lips, slightly spread, closed jaw, tongue position: high central-front, lax sound. Pronounced with the tongue nearer to the center than the front, raised just above the close-mid position. The lips are loosely spread, and the tongue is lax, with the side rims making light contact with the upper molars. Examples: FIFTEEN, SIT, CITY, PRETTY, VILLAGE.
/ʊ/ – Short Vowel
Lips slightly rounded, closed jaw, tongue position: high central-back. Pronounced with the tongue nearer to the center than the back, raised just above the close-mid position. The tongue is relaxed, with no firm contact between the tongue and the upper molars. The lips are loosely rounded. Examples: BOOK, COULD, WOULD, LOOK.
/uː/ – Long Vowel
Closed jaw, tongue position: high back, lips rounded and pushed forward. This long vowel is a closed back vowel, but the tongue raising is relaxed from the closest position, and no firm contact is made between the tongue and the upper molars. The lips tend to be closely rounded. Examples: RUDE, SUSAN, FOOD, MOON, DO, MOVE, BLUE.
/e/
Lips neutrally spread, the jaw is quite open, tongue position: mid front. The front of the tongue is raised between the close-mid and open-mid positions, with more tension than in /ɪ/. The side rims make light contact with the upper molars. Examples: BED, WENT, BREATH, DEAD, MANY.
/ə/ – Schwa
Cannot be pronounced in isolation. Lips neutral, jaw relaxed, tongue relaxed, and a very short sound. It occurs in unstressed syllables of many words. Examples: SUPPOSE, MOTHER, DOCTOR, FAMOUS.
/ɜː/ – Long Schwa
Mid central-back sound, long and very relaxed, tongue position: mid central-back. The center of the tongue is raised between the close-mid and open-mid positions. It occurs in accented syllables. Examples: WORD, GIRL, BIRD, CHURCH, EARTH, HEARD, JOURNEY.
/ɔː/ – Long Sound
Lips rounded, jaw mid-closed, tongue position: mid-high back. The back of the tongue is raised between the open-mid and close-mid positions. Examples: WAR, CORD, HORSE, BEFORE, MORE, COURT, FOUR, BOARD, DOOR.
/æ/
Tense sound, lips spread, jaw open, tongue position: open front. The front of the tongue is raised to a position midway between open and open-mid. Examples: HAND, LAMP, MAMMY, PLAID, PLAIT.
/ʌ/
Mouth and jaw relaxed and open, tongue position: low central-front. Short sound, with a considerable separation of the jaw. The center of the tongue is raised just above the fully open position. Examples: CUT, DRUG, SUN, DONE, COLOUR, MOTHER, COUNTRY, BLOOD, DOES.
/ɑː/
Long sound, jaw open, tongue position: low central-back. The mouth is open as if yawning, lips neutral. The center and back part of the tongue are in the fully open position. Examples: PASS, AFTER, BATH, PART, HEART, CALM, AUNT, FARM (longer length), DART (shorter length).
/ɒ/
Lips neutrally rounded, the vibration is in the chest, jaw open, tongue position: low back. It’s a short vowel; the back of the tongue is in the fully open position. Examples: CLOCK, DOG, SORRY, WAS, WANT, CAUGH, BECAUSE.