IPA: Monophthong Vowel Sounds in American English

If you’re a fluent or native speaker, try pronouncing the example words one after another. Notice the repeating sound and you’ll discover the sound the symbol represents.

i

Examples: be, he, we, she, me, people, see, only, even, any, these, very, need, many, really, mean, feel, keep, leave, three,

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ɪ

Examples: in, it, with, this, his, will, if, which, him, into, its, think, because, give, something, still, child, big,

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ɛ

Examples: get, when, them, then, well, any, very, many, let, never, yeah, help, where,

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æ

Examples: and, that, have, as, at, an, can, than, back, after, last, ask, bad, thank, black, add,

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ə

Examples: a (article), the, about, people, even, really, woman, yeah,

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ʌ

Examples: but, from, one, up, just, some, other, come, up, something, much, young,

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ɑ

Examples: of, not, on, all, what, also, want, because, talk, all, start,

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u

Examples: to, you, do, into, use, two, new, through, school, (Tense.)

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ʊ

Examples: would, who, good, could, look, should, woman, put, during, (Relaxed.)

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ɔ

Examples: for, or,

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