The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Guide
Welcome to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Guide, a comprehensive resource designed to enhance your pronunciation skills. The IPA is a universally recognized system of phonetic notation, meticulously developed to represent each distinct sound found in human speech, regardless of language. This guide offers an extensive array of consonants, vowels, diphthongs, along with nuances in stress, length, and articulatory features. Each IPA symbol is accompanied by English examples and sound equivalents, making it an invaluable tool for foreign learners. By correlating these symbols with the words on our website, learners can accurately pronounce even the most challenging words, facilitating a deeper understanding and more effective communication in English. Whether you're a language enthusiast or a learner striving to refine your pronunciation, this guide is your key to mastering the sounds of English.
CONSONANTS
IPA symbol | English Example | Sound Equivalent |
|---|
VOWELS AND DIPTHONGS
IPA Symbol | English Example | Sound Equivalent |
|---|
STRESS, LENGTH, AND ARTICULATORY FEATURES
Symbol | Description | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
/ ˌ / | Secondary stress marker | electricity = /ɪˌlɛkˈtrɪsɪti/ | The second syllable "lɛk" has a secondary stress, while the third syllable "trɪ" has the primary stress. |
/ ː / | Length mark (lengthens the vowel or consonant) | fleece = /fliːs/ | The vowel "iː" in "fleece" is longer than the short "i" sound. |
/ ( ) / | Parentheses denote optional pronunciation | camera = /ˈkæm(ə)rə/ | Some people might pronounce it with two syllables, like "cam-ra" /ˈkæmrə/, while others might pronounce it with three, like "cam-er-a" /ˈkæmərə/. |
/ ˈ / | Primary stress marker | water = /ˈwɔ tər/ | The first syllable "wa" has the primary stress. |