English Pronunciation chart

monophthongs vowels

sheep
ship
good
shoot
bed
her
bird
door
cat
up
far
on

diphthongs vowels

here
wait
cure
boy
show
hair
my
cow

consonants

pea
tea
key
bee
deed
go
fine
think
van
this
sea
zebra
ship
measure
cheese
judge
man
no
sing
let
rat
win
yes
hat

How to Use this Chart

Monophthong vowels: are arranged by mouth shape:

  • From left > right: Lips go from wide > round.
  • From top > bottom: Jaw goes from closed > open.

The first two rows of consonants: are paired as following:

  • Above: voiceless
  • Below: voiced

Use the play buttons to listen to the pronunciation of each vowel and consonant. The descriptions below each one provide examples of common words featuring the sound.

Learn More About English Pronunciation

The English language has a wide variety of sounds that can be challenging to master. Our interactive chart helps you understand and practice these sounds to improve your accent and pronunciation skills. Remember, practice makes perfect — keep trying until you feel more comfortable with the sounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a monophthong vowel?
A: A monophthong is a vowel sound that has a single perceived auditory quality. This means the tongue and other parts of the mouth don't move and the quality of the vowel doesn't change as you say it.
Q: What is the difference between a voiced and a voiceless consonant?
A: The main difference is that voiced consonants require the vocal cords to vibrate, whereas voiceless consonants do not.
Q: Can this chart help improve my English accent?
A: Absolutely! Training your ear to hear the differences in sound and practicing them can help improve your English pronunciation.
Q: Why is the correct pronunciation of English phonetics important?
A: Correct pronunciation is key to effective communication in any language. Accurate pronunciation of phonetics in English makes it easier for you to convey your thoughts clearly and for others to understand what you're saying. In other words, the better your pronunciation, the better your communication will be.
Q: What are the top tips for improving English pronunciation?
A: Practice regularly, preferably daily. Listen to native English speakers as much as possible in various contexts, such as television, music, or podcasts. Try to imitate the sounds and rhythms they use. Use pronunciation tools and charts, like the one on this page.
Q: How can I use a phonetics chart to learn English pronunciation?
A: A phonetics chart provides visual cues to the sounds of a language. By associating each sound with a written symbol, you can more easily remember the unique sounds in English. Practice making the sounds as you look at the symbol or written character.
Q: What are the most common mistakes in English pronunciation and how to avoid them?
A: Some common mistakes involve pronouncing silent letters, mispronouncing vowels and consonants, and incorrect word stress. Learning the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) can help you avoid many of these mistakes by providing a clear reference for each sound in the English language.
Q: What is the difference between a monophthong and a diphthong?
A: A monophthong is a single, pure vowel sound. A diphthong is a complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel sound and moves to another vowel sound in the same syllable.

How to improve your English with the easy English news articles on Learn With Text:

Reading:

  • Read two news stories every day. All short news stories are written for quick readability and learning.
  • Read the news stories from the day before and check if you remember all new words.
  • If the main story is hard to understand, consider reading the simplified version instead.

Listening:

  • Listen to today's short news while simultaneously reading the text.
  • Listen to the news from today without reading the text.
  • Go through the vocabulary words to identify which ones you heard.

Writing:

  • Answer the questions under each story.
  • Try, if possible, to use the vocabulary words in your answers.

Speaking:

  • Try to summarize the story out loud.
  • Attempt to paraphrase the sentences you found difficult.

Using Our Tools:

  • Use the Random Conversation Generator to practice everyday conversation in English.
  • Play the Story Dice game to generate ideas and create your own stories. This also helps to improve your creativity!
  • Utilize the Speaking Trainer to practice talking about surprise topics and overall fluency.

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