How to read the IPA English phonetic table simply and most accurately

Unlike learning Vietnamese, when learning English you need to learn and remember international phonetic transcription. English phonetic chart (International Phonetic Alphabet, abbreviated IPA) is the international phonetic alphabet that you need to master when you start learning English. Please read the article, ETEST English for Study Abroad will summarize the details below.

What is the IPA English phonetic chart?

English phonetic chart of the words will be placed in brackets next to the vocabulary. You can rely on the transcription to be able to pronounce The most accurate and standard English. International Phonetic Alphabet IPA includes 44 sounds including 20 vowel sounds and 24 consonant sounds.

IPA table symbols:

• Vowels: Vowels
• Consonants: Consonants
• Monophthongs: Short vowels
• Diphthongs: Long vowels

For example:

• Present /ˈprezənt/ (n) gift
• Present /prɪˈzent/ (v) to introduce

You can see the same word but in the state of noun or verb, it will have different stress and meaning. If the pronunciation is not correct, it is easy to confuse the meaning of the word.

How to pronounce English based on IPA phonetic table

Before starting to practice pronouncing international standard vowels, learners need to understand the following knowledge:

• Vowels are sounds that, when produced, allow the flow of air from the larynx to the lips without obstruction. These are sounds produced by vibrations of the larynx.
• Vowels can stand alone or combine with consonants to form words.
• When pronouncing, learners need to use their tongue, lips and breath at the same time to achieve the correct sound.
• The main vowels include a, o, i, u, e and the semivowels y, w.
• This passage has been rewritten to be more understandable and less complicated, focusing on the key points about vowels in English pronunciation.

Revealing the most standard way to read the IPA English phonetic table

If you want to be able to pronounce and speak English most accurately. Master the knowledge that we will reveal about how to read the English phonetic table. IPA most accurate

How to read 20 vowels in the IPA phonetic table

Vowel /ɪ/

How to pronounce: This vowel is similar to the pronunciation of “i” in Vietnamese. But the pronunciation is very short, only half the length of the i sound.

For example:

• ship. /∫ɪp/ ship.
• bin. /bɪn/ bin.
• sit. /sɪt/ sit.

Vowel /i:/

How to read: This is a long i sound, when reading, prolong the “i” sound. The most standard way to read the sound is to pronounce it in the mouth, not blow it out.

For example:

• tea /ti:/: tea
• free /fri:/: free
• scene /siːn/: scenery

Vowel /ʊ/

How to read: With the short “u” sound, when pronounced similar to the letter “ư” in Vietnamese. You do not use your lips to pronounce it but push a very short breath from your throat.

For example:

• sugar /ˈʃʊɡər/ (n): sugar
• woman /ˈwʊmən/ (n): woman
• cushion /ˈkʊʃn/ (n): small pillow

Vowel /u:/

How to read: this is called a long “u” sound, when reading you should prolong the “u” sound. The sound will be produced in the mouth cavity, not blown out.

For example:

• music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ (n): music
• fruit /fruːt/ (n): fruit
• pool /puːl/ (n): swimming pool

Vowel /e/

How to read: Similar to the "e" sound in Vietnamese but pronounced very short

For example:

• dress /dres/ (n) dress
• check /tʃek/ (n) bill
• bell /bel/ (n) bell

Vowel /ə/

How to read: similar to the sound "ơ" in Vietnamese but when pronounced shorter and lighter.

For example:

• Silent /ˈsaɪ.lənt/ (adj) silent
• Pharmacy /ˈfɑː.mə.si/ (n) drugstore
• Future /ˈfjuː.tʃər/ (n) future

Vowel /ɜ:/

How to pronounce: this is called the "ơ" sound with a curled tongue. When you pronounce the sound /ɘ/, curl your tongue up and the sound must be pronounced in the mouth to be correct.

For example:

• Work /wɜːk/ (n) work
• Turn /tɜːn/ (v) to turn
• Search /sɜːtʃ/ (v) to search

Vowel /æ/

How to read: This sound is a flat a sound, a hybrid between the sounds “a” and “e”. When reading, it feels like the sound is pressed down.

For example:

• Sad: /sæd/: sad
• Map: /map/: map
• Candle: /'kændl/: candle

Vowel /ɔ:/

How to read: similar to the o sound in Vietnamese, when reading, curl your tongue up and the sound is pronounced from inside the mouth.

For example:

• Ball /bɔːl/: ball
• Horse /hɔːs/ – horse
• Autumn /ˈɔːtəm/: Autumn

Vowel /ɑ:/

How to read: When reading, prolong the “a” sound and make it in your mouth. You need to pay close attention to how the vowels are pronounced.

For example:

• Guard. /gɑːd/ protect
• Start. /stɑːt/ start
• Heart. /hɑːt/ heart

Vowel /ʌ/

Pronunciation: similar to the Vietnamese “ă” sound, but a bit of a hybrid between the “ă” and “ơ” sounds. So when reading, you have to let out your breath.

For example:

• Come /kʌm/ to come, to come
• Cup /kʌp/ cup, bowl
• Umbrella /ʌmˈbrelə/ umbrella

Vowel /ɒ/

How to read: Similar to the Vietnamese "o" sound but the pronunciation is very short.

For example:

• Job /dʒɒb/: Job
• Coffee /ˈkɒfi/: coffee
• Doctor /ˈdɒktə(r)/: Doctor

Vowel /ɪə/

How to read: this is a diphthong. It is pronounced from the vowel / ʊ / then gradually to the vowel / ə /.

For example:

• Tear /tɪə(r)/ tears
• Fear /fɪə(r)/ fear
• Beard /bɪəd/ resist

Vowel /eɪ/

How to read: read from the vowel /e/ then gradually move to the vowel /ɪ/.

For example:

• Raise. /reɪz/ to increase
• Shade. /ʃeɪd/ darkness, shade
• Face. /feɪs/ face

Vowel /ɔɪ/

How to read: read from the vowel /ɔ:/ then gradually move to the vowel /ɪ/.

For example:

• Coin. /kɔɪn/ money
• Enjoy. /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/ enjoy, enjoy
• Boil. /bɔɪl/ boil, boiling

Vowel /aɪ/

How to read: read from the vowel /ɑ:/ then gradually move to the vowel /ɪ/.

For example:

• Fine /faɪn/: good, pure
• Behind /bɪˈhaɪnd/: behind
• Child /tʃaɪld/: child

 

Vowel /əʊ/

How to read: Pronounce by reading the vowel / ə / then gradually moving to the vowel / ʊ /.

For example:

• Potato /pəˈteɪtəʊ/: potato
• Tomorrow /təˈmɔːroʊ/: tomorrow
• Shoulder /ˈʃəʊldər/: shoulder

Vowel /aʊ/

How to read: Pronounce by reading the vowel /ɑ:/ then gradually move to the vowel /ʊ/.

For example:

• About /əˈbaʊt/: about, about
• Sound /saʊnd/: sound
• Counting /ˈkaʊtɪŋ/: counting

Vowel /ʊə/

Pronunciation: Read similar to the uo sound, gradually moving from the back vowel /ʊ/ to the middle vowel /ə/.

For example:

• Doer /dʊə(r)/: person who does the work
• Tour /tʊə(r)/: outing, travel
• Poor /pʊə/: poor

Vowel /eə/

How to read: Pronounce by reading the vowel /e/ then gradually moving to the vowel /ə/.

For example:

• Square. /skweə(r)/ square
• Bear. /beə(r)/ to carry, to endure
• Care. /keə(r)/ care

How to read 24 consonants

Consonant /p/

How to read: Read it similar to the p sound in Vietnamese. When reading, the two lips block the air flow in the mouth and then release it. Feel the vocal cords vibrate slightly.

For example:

• Pull /pʊl/
• Stop /stɑːp/
• Piece /pi:s/

Consonant /b/

How to read: similar to the sound b in Vietnamese. When pronouncing, the lips block the air from inside the mouth and then release it.

For example:

• Back. /bæk/ back, behind.
• Baby. /ˈbeɪbi/ child
• Job. /dʒɒb/ job.

Consonant /t/ 

How to pronounce: similar to the t sound in Vietnamese, but when you pronounce it, you need to release the air more strongly. When pronouncing, place the tip of your tongue under your gums. When you release the air, the tip of your tongue will touch your lower front teeth.

For example:

• Table /ˈteɪ.bəl/ (n) The table
• Take /teɪk/ (n) Take away
• Tomorrow /təˈmɔːr.oʊ/ (adv) Tomorrow

Consonant /d/

How to pronounce: similar to the Vietnamese d sound, but with a stronger exhalation. When pronouncing, you should place the tip of your tongue under your gums, when the air comes out, the tip of your tongue touches your lower front teeth. The two teeth close together, opening up the air flow and creating vocal vibrations.

For example:

• Glad /ɡlæd/ (adj) happy
• Decade /ˈdek.eɪd/ (n) decade
• Afraid /əˈfreɪd/ (adj) afraid

Consonant /t∫/

How to read: similar to the way the ch sound is pronounced in Vietnamese. But the difference is that the lips are slightly rounded, when the air escapes, the tongue is straight and touches the lower jaw.

For example:

• Nurture /ˈnɜːtʃə(r)/: nurturing
• Picture /ˈpɪktʃə(r)/: picture
• Miniature /ˈmɪnɪtʃə(r)/: model

Consonant /dʒ/ 

How to pronounce: similar to the pronunciation of the consonant /t∫/, but with vocal cord vibration. The lips are slightly rounded and protruded forward. When the air is released, the lips are half-rounded, the tongue is straight, touching the lower jaw so that the air stream escapes on the surface of the tongue.

For example:

• Joy. /dʒɔɪ/ happy.
• Gin. /dʒɪn/ trap.
• Edging. /ˈedʒɪŋ/ border, edge

Consonant /k/ 

This pronunciation is similar to the Vietnamese “k” sound, but requires a strong exhale by raising the back of the tongue, touching the soft pharynx, and lowering the pressure when the strong air flow is released, without affecting the vocal cords.

For example:

• Keep /kiːp/ (v) to keep
• Key /kiː/ (n) key
• Kick /kɪk/ (v) to kick

Consonant /g/ 

How to read: Pronounce it almost like the Vietnamese g sound. When reading, you need to raise the back of your tongue, touch the soft palate, lower it when a strong stream of air comes out so that the vocal cords vibrate.

For example:

• Gold. /gəʊld/ gold.
• Good. /gʊd/ good.
• Goat. /gəʊt/ goat

Consonant /f/

How to read: consonants are read similarly to the ph sound in Vietnamese. When you pronounce, your upper jaw must lightly touch your lower lip.

For example:

• Fan. /fæn/ the fan.
• Phone. /fəʊn/ phone.
• Laugh. /læf/ laugh out loud.

Consonant /v/

How to read: you read it similar to the sound v in Vietnamese. When pronouncing, the upper jaw needs to lightly touch the lower lip to pronounce it correctly and accurately.

For example:

• Favour. /ˈfeɪvə(r)/ goodwill, affection.
• Oven. /ˈʌvən/ oven (for steaming cakes)
• View. /vjuː/ look, observe.

Consonant /ð/

How to read: place the tip of your tongue between your teeth and let the air flow out between your tongue and your teeth, causing your larynx to vibrate.

For example:

• This. /ðɪs/ this thing.
• Other. /ˈʌðə(r)/ (the) other.
• Smooth. /smuːð/ gentle, peaceful.

Consonant /θ/

How to read: place the tip of your tongue between your teeth, let the air flow out between your tongue and your teeth, and keep your larynx from vibrating.

For example:

• Thief /θiːf/: thief
• Thin /θɪn/: thin, skinny
• Teeth /tiːθ/: teeth

Consonant /s/

How to read: similar to the pronunciation of the s sound in Vietnamese. When reading, your tongue should be placed lightly on the upper jaw, the soft palate raised, the air flow should come from between the surface of the tongue and the gums so that the larynx does not vibrate.

For example:

• Crease /kriːs/ wrinkle, fold
• Sister /ˈsɪstə(r) sister, younger sister
• Price /praɪs/ price

Consonant /z/

How to read: When pronouncing, place your tongue lightly on your upper jaw, lift your soft palate, and let the air flow out from between the surface of your tongue and gums, but vibrate your larynx.

For example:

• Zero /ˈzɪərəʊ/ number 0
• Music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ music
• Roses /roʊziz/ roses

Consonant /∫/

How to read: When reading, purse your lips, point them forward and round your lips. The tip of your tongue touches the upper gum and lifts the front part of your tongue.

For example:

• Sure /ʃɔː(r)/ sure
• Chef /ʃef/ chef
• Ship /ʃɪp/ ship

Consonant /ʒ/ 

How to read: When you read, purse your lips and point them forward, round your lips. Let the tip of your tongue touch the gum of your upper jaw and lift the front part of your tongue and read the laryngeal vibration.

For example:

• Garage. /gə'rɑːʒ/ garage, car park.
• Measure. /ˈmeʒə(r)/ measure.
• Treasure. /ˈtreʒə(r)/ wealth.

Consonant /m/

How to read: similar to how to read the sound m in Vietnamese, the lips are closed and the air is released through the nose.

For example:

• Empty /ˈempti/ empty
• Temptation /tempˈteɪʃən/ temptation
• Come /kʌm/ to come, to come

Consonant /n/

How to read: similar to how to read the sound n in Vietnamese, but when reading, the lips are parted and the tip of the tongue touches the upper gum, blocking the air from coming out of the nose.

For example:

• End /end/ end
• Sound /saʊnd/ sound
• Friend /friend/ friend

Consonant /ŋ/

How to read: When reading, you need to block the air in your tongue, open your lips, air is emitted from your nose, and your larynx vibrates. The back of your tongue is raised and touches the soft palate.

For example:

• Think /θɪŋk/ think
• Wrong /rɒŋ/ wrong, bad
• Hang /hʌŋ/ hang

Consonant /h/

How to read: similar to the pronunciation of the h sound in Vietnamese, lips half open and tongue lowered to let air escape, larynx does not vibrate.

For example:

• Hot. /hɒt/ hot.
• Whole. /həʊl/ full, entire
• Ahead. /əˈhed/ in front of.

Consonant /l/

How to read: You need to slowly curl your tongue, touch your teeth to your upper jaw, vibrate your larynx and open your lips completely. The tip of the tongue is slowly curled up and placed on your upper lip.

For example:

• Life /laɪf/ life
• Love /lʌv/ love
• Lecture /ˈlektʃə(r)/ lecture

Consonant /r/

How to read: When pronouncing, you need to curl your tongue inward, round your lips and slightly purse them forward. When the air is released, the tongue relaxes and the round lips open wide.

For example:

• Sorry. /ˈsɒri/ sorry.
• Arrange. /əˈreɪndʒ/ arrange.
• Road. /rəʊd/ road.

Consonant /w/

How to read: With the mouth shape, lips are rounded, pursed forward and the tongue is relaxed. When the air is released, the lips are wide open, the tongue remains relaxed.

For example:

• When. /wen/ when.
• Queen. /kwiːn/ queen.
• Win. /wɪn/ victory.

Consonant /j/

How to read: When pronouncing this consonant, you need to raise the front part of your tongue close to the hard palate, push the air out through the middle of the front part of your tongue, and slightly open your lips. When the air is released, your lips open wide, the middle part of your tongue is slightly raised and relaxed.

For example:

• Young /jʌŋ/ young, youth
• beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfl/ beautiful
• Music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ music

Some notes when pronouncing the IPA phonetic table

To be able to pronounce English most accurately, you must not only learn by heart and memorize. English phonetic chart. In addition, you need to pay attention to the shape of your mouth, tongue and the air emitted must be reasonable and correct. We will point out the things you need to pay attention to when pronouncing the IPA phonetic chart.

Note about lips

The shape of the lips for each vowel and consonant will be different, helping to pronounce correctly and accurately.

• Purse your lips when pronouncing the sounds /∫/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/, /t∫
• Lips open moderately when pronouncing the sounds /ɪ/, /ʊ/, /æ/
• Lip rounding is the pronunciation of the sounds /u:/ and /əʊ/

Note on the tongue

You need to pay attention to the appropriate tongue position when pronouncing. Each different sound will have a different way of placing the grid as follows:

• Position of tongue touching teeth when pronouncing /f/ and /v/ sounds
• Curl the tip of the tongue to touch the gums when pronouncing the sounds /t/, /d/, /t∫/, /dʒ/, /η/, /l/.
• Curl the tip of the tongue against the hard palate when pronouncing the sounds /ɜ:/, /r/.
• Raise the back of the tongue when pronouncing the sounds /ɔ:/, /ɑ:/, /u:/, /ʊ/, /k/, /g/, /η/
• Combine the teeth and tongue when pronouncing the sounds /ð/ and /θ/.

Note on vocal cords

The vocal cords play an important role in pronunciation. English vowel chart. To pronounce well and correctly you must note the following:

• Vibration (voiced) when reading vowels: /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /z/, /m/, /n/, /w/, /j/, /dʒ/, /ð/, /ʒ/
• No vibration (voiceless) when pronouncing the sounds: /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /s/, /h/, /∫/, /θ/, /t∫/

Principles of pronunciation of some special vowels and consonants

The sounds y and w can be either vowels or consonants.

In English, the sounds /y/ and /w/ are called semivowels. That means /y/ and /w/ can be both vowels and consonants.

For example: pretty (y is a vowel), you (y is a consonant), want (w is a consonant), saw (w is a vowel),…

Note on the consonant g

• If after /g/ is the consonant i, y, e, the pronunciation according to the IPA phonetic table will be /dʒ/

For example: giant, language, gym…

• If /g/ is followed by the vowels a, u, o, the pronunciation is still /g/

For example: go, gun, guy, game,…

Note on consonant c

• Pronounced as /s/ if the consonant /c/ is followed by the vowels i, y, e

For example: city, centre, cycle,….

• It is /k/ if the consonant /c/ is followed by the vowels a, u, o

For example: cut, cold, call,…

Note on the consonant r

If the consonant /r/ is preceded by a weak vowel like /ə/, it can be omitted.

For example: road /rəʊd/, airport /ˈeəpɔːt/, interest /ˈɪntərəst/…

When the word “interest” has the vowel /ə/ before the letter “r,” it can be pronounced /ˈɪntrəst/ (read something like “in-truhst”).

Note on the consonant j

The consonant j almost always comes at the beginning of a word and is pronounced /dʒ/.

For example: jump, just, job,…

Note on the vowel e

Short words or the final sound of long words ending with vowel + consonant + e, the vowel /e/ will be silent and the vowel before it will be a long vowel.

For example: at => ate , cod => code, cub => cube,…

Distinguish between short and long vowels

There are 5 short vowels: ă, ĕ, ĭ, ŏ, ŭ.

• short a (ă) – /æ/: cat, act, apt, bad, bag, fad, map, back…

• short e (ĕ) – /e/: ben, den, fed, bed, red, pen, check…

• short i (ĭ) – /ɪ/: bin, bid, in, tip, sit, list, fish…

• short o (ŏ) – /ɒ/: hot, Tom, bop, pot, dog, not…

• short u (ŭ) – /ʌ/ : cut, sun, bug, cup, run, mud…

Along with that, there are also 5 long vowels, usually denoted as ā, ē, ī, ō, ū in the full IPA English phonetic transcription tables. Long vowels are sounds that last longer than short vowels and are usually clearer. Below is the specific pronunciation of each of these long vowels:

• long a (ā) – /eɪ/: cake, rain, day, eight, train, plate, game, name…

• long e (ē) – /i:/: tree, beach, me, baby, key, field, see, meet, feel, beach…

• long i (ī) – /aɪ/: five, tie, light, my, find, child, fly, line, sky…

• o long (ō) – /oʊ/: nose, toe, toast, no, snow, bold, most, go, phone, snow…

• long u (ū) – /u:/ or /ju:/: new, few, blue, suit, fuel, you, true, music…

To distinguish between short and long vowels in English, learners can rely on the following rules:

• If a word has only one vowel and that vowel is not at the end of the word, then that vowel is usually a short vowel.

For example: bug /bʌɡ/ (bug), think /θɪŋk/ (think), cat /kæt/ (cat), job /dʒɒb/ (job), bed /bɛd/ (bed), ant /ænt/ (ant), act /ækt/ (action).

☛ Exceptions: Some words like mind /maɪnd/ and find /faɪnd/ have a long vowel even though it is not at the end of the word.

• If a word has only one vowel and that vowel is at the end of the word, according to the rule 100% is a long vowel.

For example: she /ʃiː/ (she), he /hiː/ (he), go /ɡoʊ/ (go), no /noʊ/ (no).

• When two vowels are next to each other, the first vowel is usually a long vowel, and the second vowel is usually not pronounced (silent).

For example: rain /reɪn/ (rain) – “a” is a long sound, “i” is silent; tied /taɪd/ (tied) – “i” is a long sound, “e” is silent; seal /siːl/ (seal) – “e” is a long sound, “a” is silent; boat /boʊt/ (boat) – “o” is a long sound, “a” is silent.

☛ Exceptions: read /rɛd/ (read – past tense is short e) and /riːd/ (present tense is long e).

• If in a word, a vowel comes before two identical consonants (called a diphthong), then that vowel is usually a short vowel.

For example: dinner /ˈdɪnər/ – “i” is a short sound; summer /ˈsʌmər/ – “u” is a short sound; rabbit /ˈræbɪt/ – “a” is a short sound; robber /ˈrɒbər/ – “o” is a short sound; egg /ɛɡ/ – “e” is a short sound.

• If a word has two identical vowels next to each other, they are usually pronounced as one long vowel.

For example: peek /piːk/ – “e” is a long sound; greet /ɡriːt/ – “e” is a long sound; meet /miːt/ – “e” is a long sound; vacuum /ˈvækjuːm/ – “u” is a long sound.

• This rule does not apply to the vowel “O”, as the pronunciation can change.

For example: poor /pʊər/ or /pɔːr/ (poor), tool /tuːl/ (tool), fool /fuːl/ (foolish person), door /dɔːr/ (door).

• If a vowel comes before an “R”, its pronunciation may change.

For example: beer /bɪr/ (beer) – sound /ɪər/ instead of a simple long sound.

• When “Y” comes at the end of a one-syllable word, it is usually pronounced like the “long i” sound /aɪ/.

For example: cry /kraɪ/ (cry), try /traɪ/ (try), by /baɪ/ (by), shy /ʃaɪ/ (shy).

Special ways of writing some vowels and consonants

• After a short vowel there will be the sounds /f/, /l/, /s/ then you need to double the /f/, /l/, /s/.

For example: Ball, staff, pass, tall,…

• For words with two syllables and the short vowels /b/, /d/, /g/, /m/, /n/, /p/ are also doubled.

For example: rabbit, happy, suggest,…

Note: 

• When rewriting words based on pronunciation, remember that if a vowel comes before two similar consonants (diphthongs), the vowel is usually a short vowel. This rule helps avoid spelling errors when writing words with short vowels.

For example: When you hear the word “compass,” if you know this rule, you will realize that after the short vowel “a” there must be two “s,” avoiding the incorrect spelling “compas.”

• When the vowel “e” comes at the end of a short word or the end of a long word and is followed by a consonant + “e,” the “e” is usually silent, and the vowel before it becomes a long vowel. This is the “Magic E,” where the “e” changes the pronunciation of the previous vowel from short to long.

For example:

• bit /bɪt/ → bite /baɪt/ (short “i” becomes long “i”)
• at /æt/ → ate /eɪt/ (short “a” becomes long “a”)
• cod /kɒd/ → code /koʊd/ (short “o” sound becomes long “o”)
• cub /kʌb/ → cube /kjuːb/ (short “u” sound becomes long “u”)
• met /mɛt/ → meet /miːt/ (short “e” becomes long “e”)

Why Is Learning the IPA Chart Important When Learning English?

Many people who are new to learning English often wonder about the importance of the IPA phonetic chart. Understanding and mastering the IPA is the key to helping you pronounce English correctly and accurately. This is important because English has many words that look the same but are pronounced differently, and conversely, there are words that are spelled the same but are pronounced completely differently.

The IPA phonetic chart is an important basic knowledge that learners need to start early. This helps them understand pronunciation rules, build a solid foundation for developing English communication skills and effectively support other skills.

CONCLUSION

Pronouncing the English phonetic table correctly is really difficult in the process of self-study. You need to spend a lot of time and effort to be able to complete this goal. An easy method to help you pronounce correctly faster is to study with a professional or attend courses at an English center.

Come to ETEST English for Study Abroad You will receive detailed instructions from the instructors. The team of highly qualified teachers here can easily support you in practicing speaking and pronouncing the most accurate English phonetic transcription.