VOWELS

DEFINITION

The core or "peak" of the syllable. Sound in which there is continual vibration of the vocal cords, air is released without interruptions.

/i/

front

high

tense

unrounded

read, feet, these

/ɪ/

front

high

lax

unrounded

bit, this, sister

/eɪ/

front

mid

tense

unrounded

late, bait

/ɛ/

front

mid

lax

unrounded

get, any, bread

/æ/

front

low

lax

unrounded

last, apple, answer

/ʌ/

central

mid

lax

semi rounded

jump, up, love

/ə/

central

mid

lax

semi rounded

come, does

/ər/

central

mid

lax

semi rounded

teacher, better

/ɔɪ/

diphthong

ex: choice, enjoy

/aʊ/

diphthong

ex: south, cow

/aɪ/

diphthong

ex: nine, dry, high

/ɔ/

back

low

tense

rounded

author, thought

/oʊ/

back

mid

tense

rounded

go, drove

/ʊ/

back

high

lax

rounded

look, book,, put

/u/

back

high

tense

rounded

cool, soup, true

/ɑ/

central

low

semi rounded

tense

got, stop, want

/ɜr/

central

mid

lax

semi rounded

word, nerd