How can I learn British English vowel sounds?
What is the International Phonetic Alphabet?
Imagine a world where all English words were pronounced exactly as they were spelled!
'Tough' would be written 'tuf'
'Said' would be 'sed'
'Women' would be 'wimin'
English learners face regular challenges with pronunciation, because of the spelling-sound disconnect.
And yet pronunciation skills are a key part of learning to use English to communicate. And if you're not sure how to say a word, it can really impact your confidence and fluency.
The good news is that there's a system which shows you exactly which sounds you need in every word in English: the International Phonetic Alphabet (or IPA).
What are the phonetic symbols for English and what do they mean?
When you look at the IPA script shown in the slash brackets, you can see clearly that the vowels (and sometimes the consonants) are pronounced very differently from the spelling:
tough /tʌf/
said /sed/
women /ˈwɪm.ɪn/
You will find these IPA spellings in learners' dictionaries, like the Cambridge Dictionary.
But to use this system, you'll also need to get familiar with the 20 different vowels and diphthong sounds and symbols in British English (as well as the 24 consonants). Our interactive British English vowels and consonants chart is a great place to start...
Watch: Learn how to pronounce any word in English using the IPA
What is the schwa sound and how do you say it?
If there's only one phonetic symbol you learn, make it the schwa. It's an upside-down letter e symbol, like this:
ə
The schwa is the most common sound in spoken English, representing over 9% of all speech - so it's worth practising! You can read more about the schwa in my earlier blog - and also take a look at the video below.
Watch: The schwa sound in English
Which words or sounds do you find difficult to pronounce? Get in touch with me via our website and maybe I'll cover your suggestion in a future video or blog!
Do you want to improve your pronunciation at your own pace and in your own home? Take a look at our Pronunciation Power Online Course to see how you can build your English speaking skills in just a few minutes a day.
About the author
Hi there 👋 My name is Jenny Dance, and I have over 20 years' teaching experience. I am fascinated by language and sound, and have a passion for pronunciation...