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English

The Alphabet and Pronunciation

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The English alphabet has 26 letters. We use these letters to write words. Pronunciation is how we say those words out loud. Learning the letters and sounds helps you speak clearly.

English Alphabet

The English alphabet has 26 letters, from A to Z.
  • There are 5 vowels: A, E, I, O, U
  • The other 21 letters are consonants
  • Each letter has a name (e.g., “A” is ay, “B” is bee)
LetterNameExampleExample Pronunciation
Aayapple/ˈæp.əl/
Bbeeball/bɔːl/
Cseecat/kæt/
Ddeedog/dɒɡ/
Eeeelephant/ˈel.ɪ.fənt/
............

Vowels

  • A, E, I, O, U
  • Sometimes Y is a vowel (e.g., gym, happy)
  • Vowels can have short sounds (cat) or long sounds (cake)

Consonants

  • All letters except vowels
  • Some consonants can be silent (e.g., k in knock)
  • Some create unique sounds (e.g., th in think)

Basic Pronunciation Rules

English pronunciation follows patterns, but there are exceptions. Here are key rules:

. Consonants

  • Most consonants sound the same as their letter name (e.g., b = /b/, m = /m/)
  • c can sound like /k/ (cat) or /s/ (city)
  • g can sound like /g/ (go) or /j/ (giant)
  • th has two sounds: /θ/ (think) and /ð/ (this)

. Vowels

  • Short vowels: a (cat), e (bed), i (sit), o (not), u (cup)
  • Long vowels: a (cake), e (see), i (like), o (go), u (rule)
  • Vowels can form dipthongs (two vowel sounds) like oi (coin) and ou (out)

. Silent Letters

  • Some letters are silent and not pronounced (e.g., k in knight, w in write, e in make)
  • Silent letters often affect the pronunciation of other letters

. Stress and Intonation

  • One part of a word is usually stressed (spoken louder and longer)
  • Sentence intonation rises for questions and falls for statements

What are the two common sounds of the letter c in English?


  • /k/
  • /s/
The letter c can sound like /k/ as in 'cat' and /s/ as in 'city'.

In English sentence intonation, what typically happens to the pitch at the end of a question?


It rises.

English questions usually end with a rising intonation, signaling that a response is expected.

Common Pronunciation Challenges

English has many irregularities, especially for learners whose native languages have different sound systems.
  • th sounds (/θ/, /ð/) are rare and tricky for many learners
  • Distinguishing v and w can be difficult
  • Ending consonant sounds (like -ed, -s) must be pronounced clearly
  • Vowel length and word stress can change meaning (e.g., record as noun vs. verb)

Pronunciation Tips

  • Listen to native speakers and repeat out loud
  • Use a dictionary with pronunciation guides (look for IPA symbols)
  • Practice difficult sounds in pairs (think/this, ship/sheep)
  • Slow down and focus on clear sounds before speaking faster

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

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