Vowels

Vowels are open vocal sounds which come out easily without a build-up of air pressure. Use the webpages below to listen to and practice vowel sounds and also to develop listening discrimination -- being able to hear the difference between the different sounds.

Use Voice Recorder to record your voice and compare to the model.

Vowel Charts

On vowel chart pages, move your mouse over the symbols and words to hear and practice the pronunciation.

(Larger charts may take 20 seconds to load.)

All Vowels and Diphthongs

Lax Vowels and Diphthongs

Tense Vowels and Diphthongs

Practice Charts with Sounds and Words (Minimal Pairs)

("Minimal Pairs" are two words different in only one vowel or consonant sound.)

Front Lax Vowels: [ ɪ ] [ ɛ ] [ æ ] (pin, pen, pan)

Front, High, Lax and Tense Vowels: [ ɪ ] and [ iy ] (it, eat)

Front Mid and Low Lax Vowels: [ ɛ ] and [ æ ] (bet, bat)

Listening Discrimination (Minimal Pairs)

("Minimal Pairs" are two words different in only one vowel or consonant sound.)

Do you hear Bit or Beat? [ ɪ ] or [ iy ]

Do you hear Bit, Bet or Bat? [ ɪ ], [ ɛ ], or [æ ]

Do you hear Better, Batter, or Butter? [ ɛ ], [ æ ] or [ ə ]

Do you hear Man or Men? [ æ ] or [ ɛ ]

Do you hear courier, career, or Korea? (syllable stress)

Common Pronunciation Mistakes

Say, Says, and Said [ ey ] and [ ɛ ]

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