You signed in with another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session.You signed out in another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session.You switched accounts on another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session.Dismiss alert
In diphthongs, ɪ and ʊ (and ə) are actually non-syllabic ɪ̯ and ʊ̯ (and ə̯).
The diphthong ɪu: can be thought of as a rendition of a long proto-vowel y:. The long vowel ɔ: can be thought of as a rendition of a proto-diphthong ɔʊ. The short vowel ɒ can be thought of as a rendition of a short proto-vowel ɔ.
Double consonants except ff, ll, ss, zz are written only once at the end of a word. (Cf. man and manned, web and webbed, rim and rimmed, log and logged, put and putting.)
man
[mæn]
web
[web]
rim
[rɪm]
log
[lɒg]
put
[pʊt]
pǔt
In unstressed syllables, vowels tend to be pronounced [ə].
helpless
[ˈhelpləs]
Short vowels before r are pronounced [ɜ:], unless the r is followed by another vowel.
berry
[ˈberɪ]
carry
[ˈkærɪ]
hurry
[ˈhʌrɪ]
sorry
[ˈsɒrɪ]
worry
[ˈwʌrɪ]
wurġh
wurry
Short a
In many words the pronunciation of the short a is [a] instead of [æ].
ask
[ask]
ȃsk
bath
[baθ]
bȃth
chance
[tʃans]
chȃnce
dance
[dans]
dȃnce
When a short a [æ] comes from a short e, this is not reflected in the spelling.
heart
[haət]
hȇrt
hart
shall
[ʃæl]
shȗll
There is no short ar [ɜ:]. Instead, long ar [aə] is pronounced.
Short e
Many short e [e] come from Germanic æ, ai or au, and even eu.
breath
[breθ]
bræth
breth
drench
[drentʃ]
drænch
elder
[ˈeldə]
ælder
health
[helθ]
hælth
helth
head
[hed]
hæd
hed
length
[leŋθ]
længth
less
[les]
læss
men
[men]
mæn
mesh
[meʃ]
mæsh
stealth
[stelθ]
stælth
stelth
sweat
[swet]
swæt
swet
bread
[bred]
brød
bred
dead
[ded]
død
ded
deaf
[def]
døff
deff
death
[deθ]
døth
deth
red
[red]
rød
depth
[deptθ]
dÿpth
friend
[frend]
frÿnd
frend
theft
[θeft]
thÿft
When a short e [e] comes from a short i, this is not reflected in the spelling.
fresh
[freʃ]
frïsh
Short er is pronounced [ɜ:].
herd
[hɜ:d]
Short er [ɜ:] is often written like short or [ɜ:] or short ur [ɜ:].
word
[wɜ:d]
wørd/wurd
werd
world
[wɜ:ld]
werld
work
[wɜ:k]
wørk/werk
werk
worth
[wɜ:θ]
werth
burn
[bɜ:n]
bern
Short i
Some short i [ɪ] comes from e or y.
perfect
[ˈpɜ:fɪkt]
perfėct
women
[ˈwɪmɪn]
wimmėn
little
[ˈlɪtl̩]
lyttel
sin
[sɪn]
syn
Some short i [ɪ] comes from u.
minute
[ˈmɪnɪt]
minu̇te
When a short i [ɪ] comes from a short a, this is not reflected in the spelling.
mister
[ˈmɪstə]
mȧster
english
[ˈɪŋglɪʃ]
ȧnḡlish
inḡlish
Short ir is pronounced [ɜ:].
sir
[sɜ:]
stir
[stɜ:]
styr
birth
[bɜ:θ]
byrth
Short ir [ɜ:] is often written like short ur [ɜ:].
church
[tʃɜ:tʃ]
chirch
Short o
Some short o [ɒ] comes from Germanic a.
long
[lɒŋ]
lång
song
[sɒŋ]
sång
of
[ɒv]
åve
ove
off
[ɒf]
åff
After qu and w, short a is pronounced like short o [ɒ].
quantity
[ˈkwɒntətɪ]
wander
[ˈwɒndə]
want
[wɒnt]
ward
[wɔəd]
swan
[swɒn]
Short o and short i become the diphthong oi [ɔɪ].
boy
[bɔɪ]
boi
coin
[kɔɪn]
coin
toy
[tɔɪ]
toġ
There is no short or [ɜ:]. Instead, diphthong or [ɔə] is pronounced.
Short u
Most short u [ʊ] are pronounced [ʌ]. Words that retain a proper short u [ʊ] are the exception.
pull
[pʊl]
pǔll
push
[pʊʃ]
pǔsh
put
[pʊt]
pǔt
Some short u [ʊ] are written like long o, most commonly those ending in ood and ook.
book
[bʊk]
bǒk
cook
[kʊk]
cǒk
hook
[hʊk]
hǒk
look
[lʊk]
lǒk
nook
[nʊk]
nǒk
rook
[rʊk]
rǒk
spook
[spu:k]
spok
good
[gʊd]
gǒd
gud
hood
[hʊd]
hǒd
hud
wood
[wʊd]
wǔd
wud
food
[fu:d]
fōd
mood
[mu:d]
mōd
wool
[wʊl]
wǔll
wull
cool
[ku:l]
cōl
foot
[fʊt]
fǒt
fut
soot
[sʊt]
sǒt
sut
boot
[bu:t]
bōt
Short o and u are often pronounced [ʌ] instead of [ʊ]. (Many short u are written as o.)
son
[sʌn]
sun
sôn
sun
[sʌn]
blood
[blʌd]
blôd
blud
brother
[ˈbrʌðə]
brôther
bruther
flood
[flʌd]
flôd
flud
mother
[ˈmʌðə]
môther
muther
wonder
[ˈwʌndə]
wunder
young
[jʌŋ]
yung
When a short u [ʊ] comes from a short i, this is not reflected in the spelling.
woman
[ˈwʊmən]
wǐmman
wǔmman
Short ur is pronounced [ɜ:].
worm
[wɜ:m]
Lengthened Vowels
The silent e at the end of a word turns the short vowels ă [æ], ĕ [e], ĭ [ɪ], ŏ [ɒ], ŭ [ʊ] into their long/diphthong counterparts ã [eɪ], ē [i:], ĩ [aɪ], õ [oʊ], ū [ju:]. (These are the names of the letters a [eɪ], e [i:], i [aɪ], o [oʊ], u [ju:]. Note that even though these vowels are long-ish, a [eɪ], i [aɪ] and o [oʊ] are diphthongs.)
ae
[eɪ]
ee
[i:]
ie
[aɪ]
oe
[oʊ]
ue
[ju:]
s is always written with a silent e.
house
[haʊs]
hũse
lice
[laɪs]
lyse
louse
[laʊs]
lũse
mice
[maɪs]
myse
mouse
[maʊs]
mũse
rice
[raɪs]
rise
v is always written with a silent e.
behave
[bɪˈheɪv]
bihave
lives
[laɪvz]
groove
[gru:v]
grōve
move
[mu:v]
mōve
moove
devil
[ˈdevəl]
dĕvel
dewel
dove
[dʌv]
dŭve
duw
ever
[ˈevə]
æver
ewer
glove
[glʌv]
gĕlôve
gluw
live
[lɪv]
lĭve
liw
love
[lʌv]
lŭve
luw
oven
[ˈʌvən]
ôven
uwen
seven
[ˈsevən]
sĕven
sewen
shove
[ʃʌv]
shŭve
shuw
shovel
[ʃʌvəl]
shŭvel
shuwel
wolves
[wʊlvz]
wǔlves
wulves
Lengthened a
Long a [ɑ:] as in father [ˈfɑ:ðə] is used in loan words.
father
[ˈfɑ:ðə]
fāther
banana
[bəˈnɑ:nə]
banāna
drama
[drˈɑ:mə]
drāma
tomato
[təˈmɑ:toʊ]
tomāto
samba
[ˈsɑ:mbə]
sāmba
At the end of one-syllable words, a is pronounced as a long [ɑ:].
ma
[mɑ:]
pa
[pɑ:]
Diphthong a [eɪ] is written with a silent e.
bathe
[beɪð]
When a diphthong a [eɪ] comes from a diphthong o, this is not reflected in the spelling.
great
[greɪt]
grȏte
grate
Many diphthong a [eɪ] come from agh or egh and are spelt ai or eigh.
day
[deɪ]
dagh
eight
[eɪt]
aght
freight
[freɪt]
fraght
friday
[ˈfraɪdeɪ]
frighdagh
main
[meɪn]
maghen
nail
[neɪl]
naghel
brain
[breɪn]
breghen
play
[pleɪ]
plegh
rain
[reɪn]
reghen
sail
[seɪl]
seghel
way
[weɪ]
wegh
weigh
[weɪ]
wegh
weight
[weɪt]
wïght
weght
Many diphthong a [eɪ] come from French and are spelt ai.
plain
[pleɪn]
plane
[pleɪn]
pair
[pɛə]
pare
[pɛə]
pay
[peɪ]
Long ar is pronounced [aə], whereas diphthong ar is pronounced [ɛə].
car
[kaə]
care
[kɛə]
hare
[hɛə]
Long ar [aə] is always spelt as a short a.
star
[staə]
starry
[ˈstaərɪ]
Lengthened e
Long e [i:] with silent e is the preferred spelling in loan words.
complete
[kəmˈpli:t]
concrete
[ˈkɒŋkri:t]
Long e [i:] is also spelt ea or ee, and sometimes ie.
field
[fi:ld]
felde
meat
[mi:t]
mete
seed
[si:d]
sede
shield
[ʃi:ld]
shelde
tea
[ti:]
tee
year
[jɪə]
yere
yield
[ji:ld]
ġelde
In many cases, a long e [i:] comes from a Germanic au, o, as well as ai, i or y.
bleach
[bli:tʃ]
blæche
bleak
[bli:k]
blæke
breathe
[bri:θ]
bræthe
cheese
[tʃi:z]
chæse
chease
clean
[kli:n]
clæne
clear
[klɪə]
clære
heal
[hi:l]
hæle
seat
[si:t]
sæte
sheep
[ʃi:p]
shæpe
sheap
speech
[spi:tʃ]
spæche
speach
steal
[sti:l]
stæle
street
[stri:t]
stræte
streat
weak
[wi:k]
wæke
beam
[bi:m]
bøme
beem
bean
[bi:n]
bøne
been
believe
[bɪˈli:v]
beløve
beleeve
beseech
[bɪˈsi:tʃ]
besøche
feet
[fi:t]
føte
flea
[fli:]
fløe
flee
greet
[gri:t]
grøte
leaf
[li:f]
løfe
leef
need
[ni:d]
nøde
sweet
[swi:t]
swøte
team
[ti:m]
tøme
teem
breach
[bri:tʃ]
brȳch
briech
dear
[dɪə]
dȳr
dier
deep
[di:p]
dȳp
diep
fleet
[fli:t]
flȳt
fliet
meek
[mi:k]
myk
miek
thief
[θi:f]
thyf
At the end of one-syllable words, e is pronounced as a long [i:].
bee
[bi:]
bī
bee
key
[ki:]
kǣ
key
me
[mi:]
mī
sea
[si:]
sǣ
see
the
[ði:]
After long e [i:], gh is silent.
near
[nɪə]
nēghr
neer
tear
[ti:r]
tǣghr
The diphthong e [eɪ] can be spelled as ea.
steak
[steɪk]
stek
stake
sleigh
[sleɪ]
slẽ
slae
forte
[ˈfɔ:teɪ]
fortẽ
Long er is pronounced [ɪə], whereas diphthong er is pronounced [ɛə].
ear
[ɪə]
øre
fear
[fɪə]
fere
hair
[hɛə]
hẽr
hare
werewolf
[ˈwɛəwʊlf]
wẽrwǔlf
warewǔlf
Lengthened i
Long i [i:] is spelt like long e.
beetle
[ˈbi:tl̩]
bitel
bietle
free
[fri:]
frī
frie
tree
[tri:]
trȳ
trye
week
[wi:k]
wik
wiek
sieve
[si:v]
sīve
In loan words, long -i [:i] is spelt with silent e.
machine
[məˈʃi:n]
maçhīne
submarine
[ˌsʌbmərˈi:n]
submarīne
Diphthong i [aɪ] is spelt with silent e.
side
[saɪd]
tide
[taɪd]
Words ending in -ld or -nd lack a silent e.
child
[tʃaɪld]
childe
mild
[maɪld]
milde
wild
[waɪld]
wilde
blind
[blaɪnd]
blinde
kind
[kaɪnd]
kynde
mind
[maɪnd]
mynde
At the end of one-syllable words, i is pronounced as a diphthong [aɪ].
by
[baɪ]
bi
cry
[kraɪ]
cri
try
[traɪ]
tri
die
[daɪ]
dø~
Many diphthong i [aɪ] come from igh.
sigh
[saɪ]
bright
[braɪt]
knight
[naɪt]
light
[laɪt]
night
[naɪt]
plight
[plaɪt]
right
[raɪt]
sight
[saɪt]
slight
[slaɪt]
tight
[taɪt]
eye
[aɪ]
øgh
igh
high
[haɪ]
høgh
I
[aɪ]
igh
igh
nigh
[naɪ]
nėgh
lie
[laɪ]
lygh
lye
[laɪ]
løgh
ligh
thigh
[θaɪ]
thygh
flight
[flaɪt]
flyght
fright
[fraɪt]
fryght
rye
[raɪ]
rygh
Long ir is pronounced [ɪə], whereas diphthong ir is pronounced [aɪə].
here
[hɪə]
hīr
hier
fire
[faɪə]
fyre
hire
[haɪə]
hyre
sire
[saɪə]
Lengthened o
Long o [:u] is usually spelled oo.
cool
[ku:l]
col
loose
[lu:s]
los
pool
[pu:l]
pol
stool
[stu:l]
stol
Diphthong o [oʊ] is spelt with silent e.
hole
[hoʊl]
hope
[hoʊp]
Some diphthong o [oʊ] is spelled oa.
coal
[koʊl]
cole
coast
[koʊst]
coste
In many cases, a diphthong o [oʊ] comes from a Germanic ai, ou or u.
boar
[bɔə]
bæ̃r
boat
[boʊt]
bæ̃t
bone
[boʊn]
bæ̃n
boan
dole
[doʊl]
dæ̃l
doal
goat
[goʊt]
gæ̃t
home
[hoʊm]
hæ̃m
hoam
load
[loʊd]
læ̃d
loaf
[loʊf]
læ̃f
loath
[loʊθ]
læ̃th
more
[mɔə]
mæ̃r
moar
most
[moʊst]
mæ̃st
moast
soul
[soʊl]
sæ̃l
soal
stone
[stoʊn]
stæ̃n
stoan
whole
[hoʊl]
hæ̃l
hoal
own
[oʊn]
æghen
oan
Before l, short o is pronounced as diphthong o [oʊ].
pole
[poʊl]
påle
pole
[poʊl]
role
[roʊl]
sole
[soʊl]
poll
[poʊl]
roll
[roʊl]
toll
[toʊl]
doll
[dɒl]
dŏll
bold
[boʊld]
balde
cold
[koʊld]
calde
fold
[foʊld]
falde
gold
[goʊld]
gulde
old
[oʊld]
alde
shoulder
[ˈʃoʊldə]
shulder
sold
[soʊld]
salde
folk
[foʊk]
fůlk
colt
[koʊlt]
cůlt
At the end of one-syllable words, o is pronounced as a diphthong [oʊ].
no
[noʊ]
After l and r, w is pronounced like long o [oʊ].
yellow
[ˈjeloʊ]
ġelw
Long or is pronounced [ʊə], whereas diphthong or is pronounced [ɔə]. Diphthong or [ɔə] is written like a short or.
poor
[pʊə]
pōr
pore
[pɔə]
por
fork
[fɔək]
lord
[lɔəd]
north
[nɔəθ]
short
[ʃɔət]
When a long or [ɔə] comes from a short er, this is not reflected in the spelling.
war
[wɔə]
wȇr
warp
[wɔəp]
wȇrp
Lengthened u
At the end of one-syllable words, u is pronounced as a diphthong [ju:].
mu
[mju:]
The diphthong u [aʊ] is often written ou without a silent e.
foul
[faʊl]
fũl
ground
[graʊnd]
grũnd
loud
[laʊd]
lũd
now
[naʊ]
nũ
out
[aʊt]
ũt
owl
[aʊl]
ũl
round
[raʊnd]
rũnd
sound
[saʊnd]
sũnd
town
[taʊn]
tũn
Long ur is pronounced [jʊə], whereas diphthong ur is pronounced [aʊə].
pure
[pjʊə]
pure
sour
[ˈsaʊə]
sũr
Silent w
Instead of a silent e, w can be used with a and o.
flow
[floʊ]
flõ
A silent w with an a is pronounced [ɔ:], instead of [eɪ].
gnaw
[nɔ:]
gnau
hawk
[hɔ:k]
hauk
raw
[rɔ:]
rau
Silent l
Short a before l is pronounced [ɔ:] in Germanic words.
all
[ɔ:l]
ball
[bɔ:l]
call
[kɔ:l]
hall
[hɔ:l]
mall
[mɔ:l]
tall
[tɔ:l]
wall
[wɔ:l]
halt
[hɔ:lt]
salt
[sɔ:lt]
Walt
[wɔ:lt]
assault
[əˈsɔ:lt]
assalt
fault
[fɔ:lt]
falt
vault
[vɔ:lt]
vȏlt
valt
ballet
[ˈbæleɪ]
băllẽt
pal
[pæl]
păl
valley
[ˈvælɪ]
vălley
The l in alf, alk and alm is silent.
cȃlf
[kɑ:f]
hȃlf
[hɑ:f]
chalk
[tʃɔ:k]
talk
[tɔ:k]
walk
[wɔ:k]
ālmond
[ˈɑ:mənd]
cālm
[kɑ:m]
pālm
[pɑ:m]
psālm
[sɑ:m]
Short o before l is pronounced [oʊ] in Germanic words.
holm
[hoʊm]
hołme
bolt
[boʊlt]
solve
[sɒlv]
Silent gh
bow
[boʊ]
bůgh
dough
[doʊ]
dægh
foe
[foʊ]
fægh
low
[loʊ]
lågh
owe
[oʊ]
ægh
own
[oʊn]
æghen
though
[ðoʊ]
thogh
toe
[toʊ]
tægh
window
[ˈwɪndoʊ]
windogh
shoe
[ʃu:]
shugh
through
[θru:]
thrugh
bow
[baʊ]
bũgh
fowl
[faʊl]
fũghel
gh [ʊ]
Germanic gh is sometimes equivalent to w and written as ugh. aught and ought are both pronounced [ɔ:t].
awe
[ɔ:]
aǧh
dawn
[dɔ:n]
daǧhen
law
[lɔ:]
laǧh
flaw
[flɔ:]
flaǧh
fraught
[frɔ:t]
fraǧht
naught
[nɔ:t]
naǧht
slaughter
[slɔ:tə]
slaǧhter
daughter
[dɔ:tə]
dȏǧhter
ought
[ɔ:t]
aǧht
arrow
[æroʊ]
arǧh
borough
[ˈbʌroʊ]
burǧh
borrow
[ˈbɒroʊ]
bůrǧh
follow
[ˈfɒloʊ]
folǧh
gallows
[ˈgæloʊz]
galǧhs
sorrow
[ˈsɒroʊ]
sorǧh
tomorrow
[təˈmɒroʊ]
tomorǧh
Silent n
goose
[gu:s]
gån̆s → gōs
goos
geese
[gi:s]
gæn̆s → gøse
geas
tooth
[tu:θ]
tån̆th → tōth
teeth
[ti:θ]
tæn̆th → tøthe
teath
mouth
[maʊθ]
mun̆th → mũth
south
[saʊθ]
sun̆th → sũth
five
[faɪv]
fin̆ve → five
my
[maɪ]
min̆e → mye
other
[ˈʌðə]
ân̆ther → uther
tough
[tʌf]
tân̆gh → tugh
Consonants
c, ch, k
knife
[naɪf]
knight
[naɪt]
knee
[ni:]
knȳ
knye
thick
[θɪk]
ache
[eɪk]
ake
celt
[kelt]
kelt
kin
[kɪn]
kyn
king
[kɪŋ]
kyng
kiss
[kɪs]
kyss
copper
[kɒpə]
cůpper
trek
[trek]
treck
club
[klʌb]
club
creek
[kri:k]
cryk
cheek
[tʃi:k]
chøke
chest
[tʃest]
chïst
chest
chicken
[ˈtʃɪkɪn]
chyckin
chin
[tʃɪn]
chin
starch
[staətʃ]
stench
[stentʃ]
stench
stretch
[stretʃ]
strech
thatch
[θætʃ]
thach
g, gh
aware
[əˈwɛə]
ğeware
finger
[ˈfɪŋgə]
finḡer
frolic
[ˈfrɒlɪk]
froğlik
grey
[greɪ]
gregh
stirrup
[ˈstɪrəp]
stiğrop
yard
[jaəd]
ġard
yesterday
[ˈjestədeɪ]
ġesterdagh
egg
[eg]
eı
eg
After ȃ [a] and u [ʌ] Germanic gh is pronounced [f].
after
[aftə]
ȃghter
draught
[draft]
drȃght
laugh
[laf]
lȃgh
cough
[kɒf]
co̊gh
trough
[trɒf]
tro̊gh
enough
[ɪˈnʌf]
ğenôgh
ğenûgh
rough
[rʌf]
rûgh
Germanic ghs is pronounced [ks] and doesn't contain a silent gh.
fox
[fɒks]
fůḡhs
next
[nekst]
neḡhst
badge
[bæʤ]
baĝh
bridge
[brɪʤ]
bryĝh
edge
[eʤ]
eĝh
hedge
[heʤ]
heĝh
midge
[mɪʤ]
myĝh
ridge
[rɪʤ]
ryĝh
pledge
[pleʤ]
pleĝh
sledge
[sleʤ]
sleĝh
sh
Welsh
[welʃ]
Wælĭsh
Dutch
[dʌtʃ]
Dŷtĭsh
Scotch
[skɒtʃ]
Scottĭsh
French
[frentʃ]
Fræncĭsh
w
sister
[ˈsɪstə]
sw̌ėster
sword
[sɔ:d]
sw̌årde
two
[tu:]
tw̌ō
mb
bomb
[bɒm]
bomb
climb
[klaɪm]
climbe
comb
[koʊm]
cåmbe
dumb
[dʌm]
dumb
lamb
[læm]
lamb
tomb
[tu:m]
tōmb
limb
[lɪm]
lim
numb
[nʌm]
num
thumb
[θʌm]
thum
Apendix
an-
along
[əˈlɒŋ]
an̆lång
answer
[ˈansə]
ȃnsw̌er
until
[ʌnˈtɪl]
ântill
untill
unto
[ʌnˈtu:]
ântō
untō
of-
abreast
[əˈbrest]
abrÿst
abrest
afresh
[əˈfreʃ]
afrïsh
akin
[əˈkɪn]
akyn
anew
[əˈnju:]
anỹ
on-
The unstressed prefix on- becomes a-.
aback
[əˈbæk]
aboard
[əˈbɔ:d]
abord
about
[əˈbaʊt]
abũt
above
[əˈbʌv]
abŭve
abuw
across
[əˈkrɒs]
adrift
[əˈdrɪft]
afloat
[əˈfloʊt]
aflote
afore
[əˈfɔə]
afor
afoot
[əˈfʊt]
afǒt
afut
again
[əˈgen]
agen
again
[əˈgeɪn]
ageghen
ahead
[əˈhed]
ahæd
ahed
alee
[əˈli:]
alȳ
alike
[əˈlaɪk]
alike
alive
[əˈlaɪv]
alive
aloud
[əˈlaʊd]
alũd
amain
[əˈmeɪn]
amaghen
amid
[əˈmɪd]
amid
among
[əˈmʌŋ]
amâng
amung
around
[əˈraʊnd]
arũnd
ashore
[əˈʃɔə]
ashor
aside
[əˈsaɪd]
aside
asleep
[əˈsli:p]
aslæpe
away
[əˈweɪ]
awegh
aweather
[əˈweðə]
awether
awhirl
[əˈhwɜ:l]
awhirl
all-
almost
[ˈɔ:lmoʊst]
almæ̃st
also
[ˈɔ:lsoʊ]
also
always
[ˈɔ:lweɪz]
alweghs
already
[ɔ:lˈredɪ]
alræddy
although
[ɔ:lˈðoʊ]
althogh
altogether
[ˌɔ:ltəˈgeθə]
altōgæther
one
one
[wʌn]
æ̂n
ǒan?
once
[wʌns]
æ̂ns
ǒans?
alone
[əˈloʊn]
ălæ̃n
aloan
lone
[loʊn]
læ̃n
loan
lonely
[ˈloʊnlɪ]
læ̃nly
loanly
only
[oʊnlɪ]
æ̃nly
oanly
a
[eɪ]
an̆e
ã
an
[æn]
an
any
[ˈenɪ]
æ̆ny
ĕny
Unrelated:
many
[ˈmenɪ]
mæ̆ny
mĕny
wh-, th-, h-, s-
what
[hwɒt]
what
that
[ðæt]
that
this
[ðɪs]
thiss
this
those
[ðoʊz]
thåse
thæse
these
[ði:z]
thæs
who
[hu:]
w̌hō
whō
whom
[hu:m]
w̌hōm
whōm
whos
[hu:s]
w̌hōs
whōs
where
[hwɛə]
whare
there
[ðɛə]
thẽr
thare
here
[hɪə]
hīr
hier
when
[hwen]
whæn
then
[ðen]
thæn
than
[ðæn]
than
how
[haʊ]
w̌hũ
whũ
why
[hwaɪ]
whi
so
[soʊ]
so
as
[æz]
ałs
which
[hwɪtʃ]
whȯłch
whiłch
such
[sʌtʃ]
sułch
Pronouns
the
[ði:]
the
their
[ðɛə]
their
them
[ðem]
them
they
[ðeɪ]
they
he
[hi:]
hi
him
[hɪm]
him
his
[hɪz]
his
her
[hɜ:]
hir
you
[ju:]
ū
your
[jʊə]
ūr
Verbs
The suffix -ed for the past and the past participle is pronounced [d], or [t], if the preceding consonant is voiceless.
stay
[steɪ]
stayed
[steɪd]
thank
[θæŋk]
thanked
[θæŋkt]
Weak Verbs
The following verbs are irregular, because their spelling reflects the assimilation of the ending -ed.
lay
[leɪ]
legh
laid
[leɪd]
leghed
pay
[peɪ]
pay
paid
[peɪd]
payed
The following verbs are irregular, because their stem vowel is shortened (typically to e [e] or er [ɜ:]). ...
creep
[kri:p]
crȳp
criep
crept
[krept]
crÿpt
deal
[di:l]
dæle
dealt
[delt]
dælt
dream
[dri:m]
drøme
dreem
dreamt
[dremt]
drømt
dremt
feel
[fi:l]
føle
felt
[felt]
følt
flee
[fli:]
flee
fled
[fled]
fled
hear
[hɪə]
høre
heer
heard
[hɜ:d]
hørd
herd
keep
[ki:p]
køpe
kept
[kept]
køpt
kneel
[ni:l]
knyl
kniel
knelt
[nelt]
knÿlt
lean
[li:n]
līn
lien
leant
[lent]
lïnt
lent
leap
[li:p]
løpe
leep
leapt
[lept]
løpt
lept
light
[laɪt]
lyght
lit
[lɪt]
lўght
mean
[mi:n]
mæne
meant
[ment]
mænt
ment
sweep
[swi:p]
swæpe
sweap
swept
[swept]
swæpt
sleep
[sli:p]
slæpe
sleap
slept
[slept]
slæpt
weep
[wi:p]
wøpe
wept
[wept]
wøpt
... A voiced stem ending becomes voiceless.
leave
[li:v]
læve
left
[left]
læft
lose
[lu:z]
los
lost
[lɒst]
lost
If the stem vowel is already short, it doesn't change further. (The following irregular forms are more prominent in British English.)
burn
[bɜ:n]
bern
burnt
[bɜ:nt]
bernt
learn
[lɜ:n]
lern
learnt
[lɜ:nt]
lernt
spell
[spel]
spell
spelt
[spelt]
spelt
spill
[spɪl]
spill
spilt
[spɪlt]
spilt
If the stem already ends in -t, no additional t is written.
meet
[mi:t]
møte
met
[met]
møt
Therefore, if the stem ends in -t and the stem vowel is short, the form of the verb doesn't change further.
beat
[bi:t]
bøte
beet
bet
[bet]
burst
[bɜ:st]
cast
[kast]
cȃst
cost
[kɒst]
cut
[kʌt]
fit
[fɪt]
hit
[hɪt]
hurt
[hɜ:t]
let
[let]
put
[pʊt]
pǔt
set
[set]
spit
[spɪt]
split
[splɪt]
spread
[spred]
spræd
spred
If the stem ends in -d, it doesn't become voicess -t, ...
bleed
[bli:d]
bløde
bled
[bled]
blød
breed
[bri:d]
brøde
bred
[bred]
brød
feed
[fi:d]
føde
fed
[fed]
fød
lead
[li:d]
læde
led
[led]
læd
plead
[pli:d]
plede
pled
[pled]
pled
read
[ri:d]
rede
read
[red]
red
... unless the stem vowel is short.
bend
[bend]
bend
bent
[bent]
bent
build
[bɪld]
byld
built
[bɪlt]
bylt
lend
[lend]
lend
lent
[lent]
lent
send
[send]
send
sent
[sent]
sent
spend
[spend]
spend
spent
[spent]
spent
Strong Verbs
The stem vowel of strong verbs changes. The past participle of strong verbs ends in -en.
fly
[flaɪ]
flygh
flew
[flu:]
flugh
flown
[floʊn]
floghen
lie
[laɪ]
ligh
lay
[leɪ]
lagh
lain
[leɪn]
leghen
-en is omitted after -m, -n, -nd, -ld, -ng, -g, -nk, and -ck.
begin
[bɪˈgɪn]
bigin
began
[bɪˈgæn]
bigan
begun
[bɪˈgʌn]
bigun
drink
[drɪŋk]
drink
drank
[dræŋk]
drank
drunk
[drʌŋk]
drunk
sing
[sɪŋ]
sing
sang
[sæŋ]
sang
sung
[sʌŋ]
sung
sink
[sɪŋk]
sink
sank
[sæŋk]
sank
sunk
[sʌŋk]
sunk
swim
[swɪm]
swim
swam
[swæm]
swam
swum
[swʌm]
swum
spin
[spɪn]
spin
span
[spæn]
span
spun
[spʌn]
spun
Past Participle = Past
In some verbs, the vowel of the past has merged to the vowel of the past participle.
bear
[bɛə]
bare
bore
[bɔə]
bor
born
[bɔən]
boren
bite
[baɪt]
bite
bit
[bɪt]
bit
bitten
[ˈbɪtən]
bitten
break
[breɪk]
brek
broke
[broʊk]
broke
broken
[ˈbroʊkən]
broken
choose
[tʃu:z]
chos
chose
[tʃoʊz]
chose
chosen
[ˈtʃoʊzən]
chosen
freeze
[fri:z]
frys
froze
[froʊz]
frose
frozen
[froʊzən]
frosen
get
[get]
get
got
[gɒt]
got
gotten
[ˈgɒtən]
gotten
hide
[haɪd]
hyde
hid
[hɪd]
hyd
hidden
[ˈhɪdən]
hydden
speak
[spi:k]
speke
spoke
[spoʊk]
spoke
spoken
[ˈspoʊkən]
spoken
steal
[sti:l]
stele
stole
[stoʊl]
stole
stolen
[ˈstoʊlən]
stolen
swear
[swɛə]
sware
swore
[swɔə]
swor
sworn
[swɔən]
sworen
tear
[tɛə]
tare
tore
[tɔə]
tor
torn
[tɔən]
toren
wake
[weɪk]
wake
woke
[woʊk]
woke
woken
[ˈwoʊkən]
woken
wear
[wɛə]
ware
wore
[wɔə]
wor
worn
[wɔən]
woren
Often originally i-a-u, i-a-i, a-e-a, a-o-a.
bind
[baɪnd]
bĩnd
bound
[baʊnd]
bũnd
cling
[klɪŋ]
cling
clung
[klʌŋ]
clung
dig
[dɪg]
dig
dug
[dʌg]
dug
find
[faɪnd]
fĩnd
found
[faʊnd]
fũnd
fling
[flwɪŋ]
fling
flung
[flwʌŋ]
flung
grind
[graɪnd]
grĩnd
ground
[graʊnd]
grũnd
hang
[hæŋ]
hang
hung
[hʌŋ]
hung
hold
[hoʊld]
halde
held
[held]
hæld
stick
[stɪk]
stick
stuck
[stʌk]
stuck
sting
[stɪŋ]
sting
stung
[stʌŋ]
stung
strick
[strɪk]
strick
struck
[strʌk]
struck
swing
[swɪŋ]
swing
swung
[swʌŋ]
swung
win
[wɪn]
win
won
[wʌn]
wun
wind
[waɪnd]
wĩnd
wound
[waʊnd]
wũnd
Past Participle = Present
bid
[bɪd]
bid
bade
[bæd]
bade
bidden
[ˈbɪdən]
bidden
blow
[bloʊ]
blõ
blew
[blu:]
blū
blown
[bloʊn]
blõen
draw
[drɔ:]
draǧh
drew
[dru:]
drøǧh
dreǧh
drawn
[drɔ:n]
draǧhen
eat
[i:t]
ete
ate
[eɪt]
ate
eaten
[ˈi:tən]
eten
fall
[fɔ:l]
fall
fell
[fel]
fell
fallen
[ˈfɔ:lən]
fallen
give
[gɪv]
gĭve
giw
gave
[geɪv]
gave
given
[ˈgɪvən]
gĭven
giwen
grow
[groʊ]
grõ
grew
[gru:]
grū
grown
[groʊn]
grõen
know
[noʊ]
knõ
knew
[nju:]
knū
known
[noʊn]
knõen
shake
[ʃeɪk]
shake
shook
[ʃʊk]
shǒk
shaken
[ˈʃeɪkən]
shaken
slay
[sleɪ]
slagh
slew
[slu:]
slugh
slain
[sleɪn]
slaghen
take
[teɪk]
take
took
[tʊk]
tǒk
taken
[ˈteɪkən]
taken
throw
[θroʊ]
thrõ
threw
[θru:]
thrū
thrown
[θroʊn]
thrõen
Diphthong i [aɪ] becomes short i [ɪ].
drive
[draɪv]
drive
drove
[droʊv]
dråve
drove
driven
[ˈdrɪvən]
drĭven
driwen
ride
[raɪd]
ride
rode
[roʊd]
råde
rode
ridden
[ˈrɪdən]
ridden
rise
[raɪz]
rise
rose
[roʊz]
ri̊se
rose
risen
[ˈrɪzən]
rĭsen
write
[raɪt]
write
wrote
[roʊt]
wråte
wrote
written
[ˈrɪtən]
written
come
[kʌm]
cum
came
[keɪm]
came
come
[kʌm]
cum
Mixed Verbs
Vowel change + -t
bring
[brɪŋ]
bring
brought
[brɔ:t]
braǧht
buy
[baɪ]
bygh
bought
[brɔ:t]
bȏǧht
catch
[kætʃ]
cach
caught
[kɔ:t]
caǧht
fight
[faɪt]
fyght
fought
[fɔ:t]
fȏǧht
seek
[si:k]
søke
sought
[sɔ:t]
sȏǧht
teach
[ti:tʃ]
tæche
taught
[tɔ:t]
taǧht
think
[θɪŋk]
think
thought
[θɔ:t]
thaǧht
-ed + -en
mow
[moʊ]
mõ
mowed
[moʊd]
mõed
mown
[moʊn]
mõen
sow
[soʊ]
sõ
sowed
[soʊd]
sõed
sown
[soʊn]
sõen
swell
[swel]
swell
swelled
[sweld]
swelled
swollen
[ˈswoʊlən]
swollen
Without Past Participle
can
[kæn]
can
could
[kʊd]
cǔłd
may
[meɪ]
magh
might
[maɪt]
møght
shall
[ʃæl]
shall
should
[ʃʊd]
shǔłd
will
[wɪl]
will
would
[wʊd]
wǔłd
Irregular Verbs
am
[æm]
is
[ɪz]
are
[aə]
ar
be
[bi:]
bī
bē
been
[bi:n]
bīen
bēen
was
[wɒz]
was
were
[wɜ:]
wær
do
[du:]
dō
did
[dɪd]
dyd
done
[dʌn]
dun
go
[goʊ]
gæ̃
went
[went]
went
gone
[gɒn]
gån
have
[hæv]
hăve
had
[hæd]
had
make
[meɪk]
make
made
[meɪd]
made
say
[seɪ]
segh
said
[sed]
sĕghed
see
[si:]
sēgh
saw
[sɔ:]
saǧh
seen
[si:n]
sēghen
slide
[slaɪd]
slide
slid
[slɪd]
slid
stand
[stænd]
stand
stood
[stʊd]
stǒd
tell
[tel]
tæll
told
[toʊld]
talde
American
In American English, short a [æ] before r plus vowel is pronounced like diphthong a [eɪ] before r.
AE
care
[ˈkɛə]
[ˈker]
carry
[ˈkærɪ]
[ˈkæri] → [ˈkeri]
In American English, u [ʌ] before r plus vowel is pronounced like short vowel before r [ɜ:].