Sounds of English

Vowels

Vowels are always voiced (which means the vocal cords vibrate when the sound is made).

ˈvaʊəlz ər 'ɔːlwəz 'vɔɪst

Long "pure" vowels

/ɑ:/

• R, star, car, far
• father, bother, bottle
• clerk ^UK

/i:/

• B, C, D, E, G, P, T, V, Z^US
• sea, tea, seem, feet, key

/u:/

• Q, U, W
• choose, use,

/ɜː(r)/

• first, third, 30, 30^th
• shirt, cler/u>k, c<u>ertification, learn</li
• Some people sometimes pronounce words like sure & pure with this sound rather than (myself included).

Short vowels

/ʌ/

sun, but, mud

son, won = one, brother flood, blood