Welcome to the BBC Learning English section on phonetics! Phonetics is the study of sounds and how they are used in language. Understanding phonetics can greatly improve your English pronunciation and listening skills.
Basic Phonetics
Consonants
Consonants are sounds that are produced by obstructing the airflow. Here are some common English consonants:
- /b/ - as in "bat"
- /d/ - as in "dog"
- /f/ - as in "fish"
- /g/ - as in "goat"
- /h/ - as in "hat"
- /j/ - as in "jump"
- /k/ - as in "cat"
- /l/ - as in "leg"
- /m/ - as in "man"
- /n/ - as in "no"
- /p/ - as in "pen"
- /r/ - as in "red"
- /s/ - as in "sun"
- /t/ - as in "top"
- /v/ - as in "van"
- /w/ - as in "wet"
- /z/ - as in "zoo"
Vowels
Vowels are sounds that are produced with the vocal cords vibrating. Here are some common English vowels:
- /a/ - as in "cat"
- /e/ - as in "egg"
- /i/ - as in "it"
- /o/ - as in "octopus"
- /u/ - as in "up"
Diphthongs
Diphthongs are combinations of two vowel sounds. Here are some common English diphthongs:
- /ai/ - as in "face"
- /au/ - as in "taut"
- /ea/ - as in "beach"
- /ei/ - as in "ceiling"
- /eu/ - as in "new"
- /ia/ - as in "machine"
- /ie/ - as in "die"
- /io/ - as in "pioneer"
- /oa/ - as in "袍"
- /oe/ - as in "hoarse"
- /oi/ - as in "noise"
- /ou/ - as in "house"
- /ua/ - as in "launder"
Practice Resources
To help you practice phonetics, we recommend the following resources:
By understanding and practicing phonetics, you'll be well on your way to mastering the English language! 🌟