📌 Key Rules for English Pronunciation
Vowel Sounds
- Short vowels: /i/, /ɪ/, /æ/, /ɑː/
- Long vowels: /eɪ/, /aɪ/, /ɔː/
- Silent vowels: e.g., Wednesday (/ˈwɛnzdeɪ/), people (/ˈpiːpli/)
Consonant Phonetics
- Plosives: /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/
- Fricatives: /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/
- Nasals: /m/, /n/, /ŋ/
Stress & Intonation
- Stress patterns: e.g., pronunciation (/prəˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃən/)
- Intonation rules: Rising/falling tones for questions and statements
⚠️ Common Pitfalls
- Silent Letters: e.g., kn in knight, w in write
- Homophones: flower (/ˈflaʊər/) vs. flour (/ˈflaʊər/)
- Tricky Diphthongs: /aɪ/ in sky, /ɔɪ/ in boy
📘 Practice Resources
For interactive exercises, visit our pronunciation practice page to master tricky sounds!