The document serves as an introduction to vowel sounds, categorizing them into short vowels, long vowels, and diphthongs, along with their phonetic symbols. It provides vocabulary examples and explanations for proper pronunciation, including guidelines for mouth position and spelling. Additionally, it discusses syllables, stress in words, and offers pairs of words for practice.

1. VOWELS
AN INTRODUCTION TO VOWELS
BY MAMAD

2. WHAT IS VOWEL?
A sound that is
pronounced with opened
mouth, no contact
between the tongue and
the top of the mouth or
teeth and no obstruction
to the flow of air.

3. Short Vowels
These are vowels you pronounce with a short breath. Here are the common
symbols for short vowels.
 æ (sound) – pass, back, have, had, contact
 e (sound) – every, ever, never, necessary, end
 ʌ (sound) – cup, flood, love, come, thumb
 ʊ (sound) – book, foot, woman, full, would
 ɒ (sound) – of, often, office, squat, offer
 ə (sound) – mother, stuff, ago, action, never

4. Long Vowels
These are vowels that are pronounced the same way you pronounce its
name. Here are the common symbols for long vowels:
 i: (sound) – be, need, feel, she, free
 ɜ: (sound) – her, word, turn, world, girl
 ɔ: (sound) – your, more, also, small, sure
 u: (sound) – new, too, value, school, you
 ɑ: (sound) – ask, party, father, star, bar

5. Diphthong Vowels
These are sounds produced by combining two vowel sounds. Here are the
common symbols for Diphthong vowels:
 ɪə (sound) – here, period, idea, career, clear
 eə (sound) – care, share, where, there, hair
 eɪ (sound) – later, eight, day, play, age
 ɔɪ (sound) – voice, enjoy, join, boy, choice
 aɪ (sound) – life, buy, why, guy, high, five
 oʊ (sound) – open, only, follow, home, hold
 aʊ (sound) – town, house, allow, now, how

6. /i:/
Vocabulary
tea three cheese
bean meal peach
Greek coffee see
please cream eat
• Open your mouth just a little for the sound
/i:/
• Spread your lips into a smile.
• /i:/ is a long sound, move your tongue up
a little as you say it.
Spelling
How the i: sound is spelled:
The /i:/ phoneme is normally spelled with the
letter ‘e’ or e-e’ as in the words:
• three /θriː/
• see /siː/
• these /ðiːz/
But it can also be spelled with the letters ‘e-a’.
As in the word:
leave /liːv/

7. Stressed Syllables in Words
A syllable is a part of a word. Each syllable has a vowel sound.
 Cheese has one syllable (since it has one vowel sound)
 Pizza has two syllables (it has two vowel sounds; piz●za)
In English, words with more than 1 syllable, have one stressed syllable, or stronger. It
sounds louder and slower. It is indicated with (‘) in the phonetic.
 Some English words with two syllables have stress on the second syllable:
repeat - /rɪˈpiːt/
 But mostly, especially nouns with two syllables have stress on the first syllable:
Pizza - /ˈpiːtsə/

8. /ɪ/
Vocabulary
is sick sit
miss ticket film
begin fifty listen
• Open your mouth a little more for /ɪ/
• Do not spread your lips into a smile.
• /ɪ/ is shorter, more relaxed sound than /i:/
Spelling
How the /ɪ/ sound is spelled:
The /ɪ/ phoneme is normally spelled with the
letter ‘i’ as in the words:
▪ sit /sɪt/
▪ miss /mɪs/
▪ ticket /ˈtɪkɪt/
Other spellings:
y - syllable, rhythm, gym
ui - building, guilty

9. Word Pairs /i:/ and /ɪ/
Find the phonetics of each word and practice the pronunciation.
/i:/
 Sheep
 Seat
 Heel
 Feel
 Sleep
/ɪ/
 Ship
 Sit
 Hill
 Fill
 Slip

10. VOWELS: /e/ and /eɪ/

11. /e/
Vocabulary
yes any weather
pen ever jealous
send empty yesterday
• Open your mouth a little more for /e/
• /e/ is a short, relaxed sound.
Spelling
How the /e/ sound is spelled:
The /e/ phoneme is usually spelled with the
letter ‘e’ as in the words:
▪ pen /pen/
▪ went /went/
▪ spell /spel/
Other spellings:
ea - ready, weather, head
a - any, many
ai - said, again

12. Common
Expressions
➢ Help!
➢ It’s very expensive.
➢ You’re welcome.
➢ Let’s get ready.

13. /eɪ//
Vocabulary
day April vacation
May name mistake
wait away station
• Close your mouth a little for /eɪ/
• /eɪ/ is a long sound.
• Spread your lips and move your tongue
up a little as you say it.
Spelling
How the /eɪ/ sound is spelled:
The /eɪ/ phoneme is usually spelled with the
letter ‘a’ as in the words:
▪ April /ˈeɪprəl/
▪ later /ˈleɪtər/
▪ mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/
Other spellings:
a..e – late, name, mistake
ay - day, say, May, away
ai - wait, train, afraid

14. Common
Expressions
➢ OK.
➢ Wait!
➢ What’s your name?
➢ Have a great day!

15. Word Pairs /e/ and /eɪ/
Find the phonetics of each word and practice the pronunciation.
/e/
 Pen
 Wet
 Test
 Pepper
 Shed
/eɪ/
 Pain
 Wait
 Taste
 Paper
 Shade

16. /æ//
Vocabulary
hat sad black
man plastic jacket
bag backpack glasses
• Open your mouth a little more for /æ/
Spelling
How the /æ/ sound is spelled:
The /æ/ phoneme is usually spelled with the
letter ‘a’ as in the words:
▪ hat /hæt/
▪ man /mæn/
▪ jacket /ˈdʒækɪt/
Unusual spellings:
laugh /læf/
plaid /plæd/

17. Word Pairs /e/ and /æ/
Find the phonetics of each word and practice the pronunciation.
/e/
 X
 Pen
 Men
 Left
 Said
/æ/
 Axe
 Pan
 Man
 Laughed
 Sad

18. Review: /i:/, /ɪ/, /e/, /eɪ/, and /æ/
/i:/ /ɪ/ /e/ /eɪ/ /æ/
lead lid led laid lad
beat bit bet bait bat
seal sill sell sail sal
dean din den Dane Dan

19. Test: /i:/, /ɪ/, /e/, /eɪ/, and /æ/
 Write each word in the correct column of the table below.
thanks salad ready lettuce
lemon chicken back steak
need rain think sit
great seat feel blanket
/i:/ /ɪ/ /e/ /eɪ/ /æ/

20. Thank you.