Diphthongs And Other Sounds
Spoken Description
English vowels: learn common diphthongs and sounds with examples and pronunciation tips. Practice with audio exercises to improve your speaking and listening for real-world communication.
Vergleichen Sie die englischen Diphthonge und Laute mit deutschen Äquivalenten, üben Sie die Transkription und die Lautbildung, und verbessern Sie durch Übungen Ihre Aussprache und das Hörverständnis im Alltag.
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Sounds shape meaning and flow in English. This guide highlights key diphthongs and related sounds with clear examples.
Diphthongs
A diphthong is a sound that glides from one vowel to another within the same syllable. They give English its musical quality.
/aɪ/
The /aɪ/ diphthong moves from an open vowel to a near-high vowel and appears in common words.
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| my | fine | |
| time | like |
/eɪ/
The /eɪ/ diphthong starts with a mid vowel and glides up; it often appears in spelling with "ai," "ay," or "a_e."
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| day | name | |
| rain | say |
/ɔɪ/
The /ɔɪ/ diphthong starts with a rounded vowel and moves to a near-high front vowel; it appears in words with "oi" or "oy."
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| boy | coin | |
| toy | join |
Other Key Vowels
English has several important single vowels that affect meaning; they are worth practicing alongside diphthongs.
/ɪ/
The /ɪ/ sound is a short, relaxed vowel found in many high-frequency words; it contrasts with the longer /iː/ sound.
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| sit | ship | |
| bit | pin |
/iː/
The /iː/ sound is a long, tense vowel that appears in words where spelling often includes "ee," "ea," or "ie."
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| see | tree | |
| eat | piece |
/ʊ/
The /ʊ/ sound is a short, rounded vowel found in words like book and put; it differs from the longer /uː/ sound.
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| book | put | |
| foot | could |
/uː/
The /uː/ sound is a long, rounded vowel found in words where spelling often includes "oo," "ue," or "u_e."
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| food | blue | |
| moon | June |
/ʌ/
The /ʌ/ sound is a short, central vowel found in common words like cup and luck; it contrasts with /ɑː/ and /ɒ/.
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| cup | luck | |
| up | sun |
/ɑː/
The /ɑː/ sound is a long, open vowel found in words like car and father; it often appears in British and American English spellings.
| English Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|
| car | father | |
| park | start |
Summary
Diphthongs glide between two vowel sounds and shape English rhythm; key ones include /aɪ/, /eɪ/, and /ɔɪ/. Single vowels like /ɪ/, /iː/, /ʊ/, /uː/, /ʌ/, and /ɑː/ also play crucial roles in distinguishing meaning. Practice these sounds with example words to improve pronunciation and listening.
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