All 16 English Vowel Sounds (with Examples)
| Sound | IPA Symbol | Example Words (UK/US) | |——-|————|————————| | /æ/ | æ | cat, hat, map | | /ɛ/ | e | bed, leg, red | | /ɪ/ | ɪ | sit, big, fill | | /ɒ/ | ɒ (UK) | hot, lot, rock (British) | | /ʌ/ | ʌ | cup, luck, bus | | /ʊ/ | ʊ | foot, put, woman |
Note:
| Sound | IPA Symbol | Example Words | |——-|————|—————| | /iː/ | iː | see, **me, **heat | | /ɑː/ | ɑː | father, car, palm | | /ɔː/ | ɔː | saw, **caught, talk | | /uː/ | uː | boot, food, blue** | | /ɜː/ | ɜː | bird, work, fur** |
Note:
| Sound | IPA Symbol | Example Words | |——-|————|—————| | /eɪ/ | eɪ | make, day, rain | | /aɪ/ | aɪ | my, **tie, **buy** | | /ɔɪ/ | ɔɪ | boy, **coin, joy** | | /əʊ/ | əʊ (UK), oʊ (US) | go, **home, boat | | /aʊ/ | aʊ | now, **house, cow** | | /ɪə/ | ɪə (UK) | here, **beer, **near** (British) | | /eə/ | eə (UK) | hair, **bear, **where** (British) |
Note:
can (/kæn/) VS cane (/keɪn/) The confusion between can (/kæn/) and cane (/keɪn/) stems from their similar consonant starts (/k/) and final /n/, /æ/
| Sound | IPA Symbol | Example Words | |——-|————|—————| | /ɑːr/ | ɑːr | car, **star, **far** | | /ɜːr/ | ɜːr | bird, work, nurse | | /ɔːr/ | ɔːr | for, **north, sport |
Note:
| Type | Sounds (IPA) | |—————–|—————————-| | Short | /æ, ɛ, ɪ, ɒ, ʌ, ʊ/ | | Long | /iː, ɑː, ɔː, uː, ɜː/ | | Diphthongs | /eɪ, aɪ, ɔɪ, əʊ, aʊ, ɪə, eə/ | | R-Controlled| /ɑːr, ɜːr, ɔːr/ |
deep (/diːp/) vs. dip (/dɪp/)，feel (/fiːl/) vs. fill (/fɪl/)
Need audio examples or help with a specific sound? Let me know! 😊
清辅音 Voiceless Consonant
浊辅音 Voiced Consonant 声带振动 包括爆破音中的浊音（如/b, d, g/）及其他辅音（如/v, z/等）
爆破音 Stop Consonant 指发音时气流在口腔完全阻塞后突然释放的辅音，与其在单词中的位置无关 6个音素：/p, b, t, d, k, g/ 爆破音分为清浊两类，只有浊爆破音（/b, d, g/）属于浊辅音，清爆破音（/p, t, k/）是清辅音
apple In English, voiceless stops (/p/, /t/, /k/) are aspirated (have a small puff of air) only when they start a stressed syllable. For example:
“Pat” (/pæt/) → /p/ is aspirated ([pʰ]) because it’s the onset of the stressed syllable.
“Apple” (/ˈæpəl/) → /p/ is unaspirated ([p]) because it’s in the coda (end) of the stressed syllable (/æp/), not at the onset.
Why Do Some People Say “b” Instead of “p”? If someone hears “apple” pronounced with a very weak /p/ (almost like /b/) and mimics it, they’ll replicate the mistake. This is common in informal learning (e.g., watching TV without focusing on pronunciation).
often Originally, the word “often”came from the Old English “oft”(meaning “frequently”) with the suffix “-en”(used to form adverbs). In Middle English, it was pronounced with a silent t—/ˈɒfn/ (rhyming with “soften”).
However, over time, pronunciation habits shifted:
In Modern British English, the tremains silent in most cases (pronounced /ˈɒfn/).
In American English (and increasingly in casual British speech), many native speakers now pronounce the t, resulting in /ˈɔːftn/ (sounds like “awf-tn”or “off-ten”to untrained ears).
puppy（/ˈpʌpi/）和 puppet（/ˈpʌpɪt/）的发音确实高度相似，尤其美式英语中词尾的 /t/ 可能弱化（不完全爆破），导致听觉上“最后音似不发”
/p/（清辅音）与 /b/（浊辅音）的本质区别：/p/ 是清辅音，发音时声带不振动，气流从双唇爆破而出（如 lamp 末尾的 /p/）。/b/ 是浊辅音，发音时声带需振动（如 lamb 中的 /b/）。但 /b/ 在词尾时可能弱化，甚至仅通过声带振动或口腔成阻姿势暗示，而不完全爆破
lamp（/læmp/）和lamb（/læm/）的发音确实相似，但词尾的 /p/ 和 /b/ 在爆破音规则下存在本质差异，而语境中的区分主要依赖发音细节和上下文
“Turn on the lamp” → /læmp/ 结尾有双唇轻碰的停顿感。
“The lamb is soft” → /læm/ 结尾平滑，声带振动延续至闭唇
cap（/kæp/） vs. cab（/kæb/）
rip（/rɪp/） vs. rib（/rɪb/）
Should P ever sound like B? People may pronounce “p” as “b” in some words because the surrounding sounds can influence the voicing of the consonant. Specifically, when a voiceless consonant like “p” is surrounded by voiced sounds, it can be influenced to become more like the voiced “b” sound. This occurs because the vocal cords are already vibrating for the surrounding sounds, making it easier and more natural to continue vibrating for the “p” as well. Voicing: The main difference between “p” and “b” is that “p” is a voiceless sound (vocal cords don’t vibrate), and “b” is a voiced sound (vocal cords vibrate). Influence of surrounding sounds: When “p” is placed between voiced sounds, the vibration can carry over, causing the “p” to sound more like a “b”. Examples: In words like “paper,” “happy,” and “apple,” the “p” can sound like a “b” because it is preceded and followed by voiced vowels. Language background: Speakers of languages that do not have a “p” sound will often substitute a “b” sound when speaking English, as seen in words like “pencil” being pronounced as “bencil”.
Note: “省略”≠“吞音”，需保留“发音痕迹” 省略不是完全“吃掉”某个音，而是减少该音的时长或强度，让听者能通过上下文推断出省略的内容
当两个相同的辅音相邻时（如/s-s/、/ɡ-ɡ/），通常不会完全删掉其中一个，而是将发音延长或合并，听感上像一个“重读的辅音”。 this side / big girl 可以通过「省音」（Elision）或「合并」让发音更流畅
当两个不同的爆破音（/p/b/t/d/k/g/）相邻时，前一个较弱或不送气的爆破音常被省略，只保留后一个音的发音动作。
在“5th floor”这个短语中，/θ/（清辅音 th）与/f/（清辅音）的连读确实存在难度，因为两个清辅音连续出现，且发音位置转换较快（舌尖从齿间切换到下唇抵上齿）
/θ/（th）：舌尖轻触上齿下缘，气流从舌齿缝隙摩擦通过（需“咬舌”） 。
/f/（f）：下唇轻触上齿，气流从唇齿缝隙摩擦通过。
难点：从“咬舌”到“咬唇”的动作需快速切换，若衔接不畅，容易模糊成/sf/或省略/th/音。
可参考 Rachel’s English 的 TH 连读视频（搜索“linking TH sound”）观看舌位动态演示
an “An” has two weak forms: /æn/ (strong) or /ən/ (weak, e.g., “an apple” /ən ˈæpəl/).
an apple Why It Sounds Like “A Napple”: In connected speech, the /n/ at the end of “an” links smoothly to the /æ/ at the start of “apple”.
Why It’s Not Actually”A Napple”: You’re hearing coarticulation—when two sounds influence each other’s pronunciation. The /n/ of “an” stays, but the lack of a pause between “an” and “apple” makes it feel like one word: “napple.”
To test this: Say “an apple” slowly → /ən/ + /ˈæpəl/ → then speed up—the /n/ and /æ/ blend, sounding like “ənˈæpəl” → which native listeners perceive as “an apple,” not “a napple.”
“the”的核心规则是：
Before vowel sounds 后续单词以元音音素（不是字母！）开头时，“the”弱读为/ði/（类似“滴”的轻音）；
Before consonant sounds 后续单词以辅音音素开头时，“the”弱读为/ðə/（类似“则”的轻音
the apple
in vs see saying
cooking [K.U K.IH.NG] football
head made
fall feel old
s sip s ending after a voiceless sound: nights z zip keys was because does those please always hers s ending after a vowel sound: eyes s ending after a voiced sound: weekends
di Si Su M n r
3.ə “ʌ”, “æ” and “α” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UCRonoyFpw
华人英语发音最常见的10个错误 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SdYhInBGuY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf4o-FKEwNA
http://www.pronouncekiwi.com
Q&A: How to pronounce GHOSTS, ASKS, GUESTS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQKM27s-dac strong sounds: S N L weak: d t th How to Pronounce “ʌ”, “æ” and “α” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rIpvlXddl8 hot hat hut
English: How to Pronounce T and D consonants: American Accent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzZswz8na5c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7SWETadMn0&ebc=ANyPxKqORRMBUUh6lUvhuOcOUUasSpHy_E-F1n7njnFEbvIFcUbvWmWDCGRkc4cdV2w8EJjT2Ct7-x-9GMMtmsgFDd88jd7xNg
Accurate enthusiastic Execute legitimate matriculation Measuring Effectiveness Corollary Illustrate Deviation Appropriate Alternative convergence thresholds throttle Surveillance Cohesive cohesion Encapsulation Velocity Accuracy Adequacy Alleged Adhere explicitly tertiary facet packet plagiarism algorithm Sophisticated monolith Anxious Physiology Interior Acronym Negligible Negligent fraudulent malicious Amateur angel Succinctly pedestrian Encyclopedia Psychology Technology epiphany Liaison Pragmatism longitudinal horizontal substract lieu kiosk Collision rigorous analogous Leisure Exponentially applicability enthusiasm Vacuum
at access adequate [ˈædɪkwət] accurate ˈækjərət adhere [ədˈhɪə(r)] aerial [ˈeəriəl] allied [ˈælaɪd] analog [‘ænəlɔ:g] anatomy əˈnætəmi 解剖 antenna ænˈtenə aroma əˈrəʊmə automatically atomically calendar [ˈkælɪndə(r)] civilian [səˈvɪliən] clause concatenate dad gauge [ɡeɪdʒ] garage [ˈgærɑ:ʒ] hazardous ˈhæzədəs 冒险的; 有危险的; 碰运气的
italic [ɪˈtælɪk] italy [‘ɪtəlɪ] kate liaise [liˈeɪz] liaison maternity [məˈtɜ:nəti] marathon [ˈmærəθən] penalty [ˈpenəlti] proprietary [prəˈpraɪətri] rational [ˈræʃnəl] rationale [ˌræʃəˈnɑ:l] referral [rɪˈfɜ:rəl] transit ˈtrænzɪt triangle [ˈtraɪæŋgl] tenancy ˈtenənsi 租期; 租用，租赁; 租屋; tendency ˈtendənsi 倾向，趋势; （话或作品等的） 旨趣，意向; 性情; 癖好;
wander wonder voyage [ˈvɔɪɪdʒ]
facade mechanism ch chef ʃef chief Achilles əˈkili:z
procedure
excess exit lever ˈli:və(r)
desert dessert emulator [ˈemjuleɪtə(r)] elegant execute [ˈeksɪkju:t] exercise extract excuse [ɪkˈskju:s] expenditure error -> erroneous [ɪˈrəʊniəs] wallet booklet bullet obsolete direct demonstrate necessitating deviation [ˌdi:viˈeɪʃn] entrepreneur [ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜ:(r)] concierge ˈkɒnsieəʒ genetic [dʒiˈnetik] interior [ɪnˈtɪəriə(r)] refugees resilient [rɪˈzɪliənt] semister [sɪˈmestə(r)] series ˈsɪəri:z serious ˈsɪəriəs desert dessert
legacy hygiene [ˈhaɪdʒi:n] garage [ˈgærɑ:ʒ] plagiarism [ˈpleɪdʒərɪzəm]
hypnotize [ˈhɪpnətaɪz] hygiene
civilian [səˈvɪliən] crisis [ˈkraɪsɪs] definite [ˈdefɪnət] dialect ˈdaɪəlekt discipline ‘disəplin drive -> driven itinerary [aɪˈtɪnərəri] naive [naɪˈi:v] prioritize praɪˈɒrətaɪz privilege [ˈprɪvəlɪdʒ] reimburse [ˌri:ɪmˈbɜ:s] recipe [ˈresəpi] valentine
cork cock constituent history [ˈhɪstri] horizontal
mandatory monopoly 英[məˈnɒpəli]
oven [ˈʌvn] obscured the haze obscured the view repository [rɪˈpɒzətri] secondment sɪ’kɒndmən second ˈsekənd tutor [ˈtju:tə(r)] thermometer
ph peripheral [pəˈrɪfərəl] phonetic fəˈnetɪk monophyletic ˌmɒnəʊfaɪ’letɪk monophony mə’nɒfənɪ
designate [ˈdezɪgneɪt] visual ˈvɪʒuəl vision ˈvɪʒn supervision issue/tissue closure exposure measure conclusion kənˈklu:ʒn recursion rɪˈkɜ:ʃn scissor asia asian occasion impression s after voiced-unvoiced phonetic
mortgage( house loan) statue [ˈstætʃu:] ratio tertiary [ˈtɜ:ʃəri] fortune [ˈfɔ:tʃu:n] mature [məˈtʃʊə(r)] manufacture [ˌmænjuˈfæktʃə(r)]
suit / suite recruit circuit [ˈsɜ:kɪt] plumber tusk [tʌsk] task [tɑ:sk] substantial səbˈstænʃl tuple tʌpl
numeric [nju:’merɪk] pseudo router
axis[ˈæksɪs]
import（n. 进口）/ˈɪmpɔːrt/ → import（v. 进口）/ɪmˈpɔːrt/；
record（n. 记录）/ˈrekɔːrd/ → record（v. 录制）/rɪˈkɔːrd/；
3+ Syllables 多音节词（3+音节）：词缀决定重音位置 -ic 倒数第三音节（-ic前） basic /ˈbeɪsɪk/（基本）； -tion/-sion 倒数第三音节（-tion前）education /ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃn/ decision /dɪˈsɪʒn/ -ee 最后音节（-ee结尾）employee /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/ -ful/-ly 原词重音位置不变 beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfl/（美丽的，原词beau/ti/重音在第一音节） quickly /ˈkwɪkli/ -pre-/-re- 前缀后第一音节（-pre/-re开头）prescribe /prɪˈskraɪb/ return /rɪˈtɜːrn/ -ous/-able 倒数第四音节（-ous/-able前）famous /ˈfeɪməs/ comfortable /ˈkʌmftəbl/
部分学术词汇（如 biology /baɪˈɒlədʒi/ 生物学）或外来词（如 piano /piˈænəʊ/ 钢琴）可能偏离规则，需结合词源判断
Use Etymology (Word Roots) for Academic/High-Level Words 通过词源（词根词缀）辅助判断（适合学术/高阶词）
4.1 希腊语词根（-logy, -graphy等） 希腊语源的多音节词，重音常落在 倒数第三音节（-logy前）：
biology /baɪˈɒlədʒi/（生物学，-logy前为“bio-”）；
geography /dʒiˈɒɡrəfi/（地理学，-graphy前为“geo-”）；
psychology /saɪˈkɒlədʒi/（心理学，-logy前为“psycho-”）。
4.2 拉丁语词根（-tion, -ment等） 拉丁语源的名词多以 -tion/-ment 结尾，重音落在 倒数第三音节（-tion前）：
communication /kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃn/（沟通，-tion前为“communica-”）；
development /dɪˈveləpmənt/（发展，-ment前为“develop-”）。
4.3 法语借词（-ette, -ee等） 法语借词的重音常落在 最后音节（尤其以 -ee/-ette 结尾）：
employee /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/（雇员，-ee结尾）；
cuisine /kwɪˈziːn/（烹饪，法语借词，重音在第二音节）。
execute vowel元音 http://www.hjenglish.com/zimu/yuanyinzimu/ 元音发音( a/an) vs 元音字母 voiced-unvoiced th r(in middle of words)
access assess appendix appendices asset assert devise device dialing darling Expend VS Expand invade evade legal legislative metrics matrix pass parse [pɑ:z] pushy pussy ××××× peanuts pennis pennises serial severe sketch scratch then than thin thing therapy say says month moths months cloth clothes
cycle circle chilly chilli inquiry enquiry madder matter
old owed
partial parcel plane plain [pleɪn] prosecute 起诉prostitute妓女 persecute ˈpɜ:sɪkju:t （尤指宗教或政治信仰的） 迫害; 烦扰，困扰; 强求，死缠着要; salary celery serial cereal
toe tow trunk chunk waste 和 waist
sincierity sincerely susceptible suspectable complementary complimentary
achieve&archive automatization (错误automization) adopt&adapt assess & access acquaint(acquaintance) & acquire(acquisition 收购; 获得; 购置物; 获得物) bot bolt exercise excise categorize classify causal casual complaint compliant complementary 补充补足 complimentary 恭维的 赠送的 赞美 conversion 转换 & convertion 规范& convention 会议 constitute 构成 constituent成分选民 condo condom（套套） censor 检察官 检查员 defer delay lag
elusive exclusive exercise excise fetch pick up gum glue idiot 白痴 idiom 成语 obtain retain attain detain（扣留） omit忽略 leave out省去 不考虑 parallel paralyze [‘pærəlaɪz] 使瘫痪，使麻痹;使不能正常活动 perceptive perspective prompt promote infinite [ˈɪnfɪnət] & infinitive [ɪnˈfɪnətɪv] https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-infinite-and-infinitive latter later litter vs litre principle principal populate popular cubic cubicle magnet magnifier mechanism merchant neural [ˈnjʊərəl] neutral evolution revolution Inherit Inherent faculty facility erroneous anonymous synonymous onymous numerous synchronous advantageous semen sperm spear 矛 sphere 球体 simulate & stimulate synchronous <-> asynchronous synchronize <-> desynchronize Stationary stationery substantially sustainability supper super optimal optical optimism optimistic simultaneous simulate criteria tongue tough pronounce pronunciation processor promote prompt: System prompts for password. neutral 对比 chef cheif free complementary Infinite vs Infinitive Multiplicity vs Cardinality asset assert allege allergy conservation conversation master maester scam(scamp) spam hash 弄乱 搞砸 harsh 刺耳的;残酷的 hissing