Speech sounds and their production and description across languages. English-specific grammar remains in English Grammar.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
What is the relaxed "uh" vowel in "about" called in English?
The schwa is the most common vowel sound in English and appears in unstressed syllables like the first sound of "about".
Which English sound does the International Phonetic Alphabet symbol ʃ represent?
English spelling uses two letters for that sound, but the IPA writes it with the single symbol.
Which group consists of normally voiced nasal consonants in English?
Air flows through the nose for these sounds, but M and N can be partly devoiced after S, as in "smoke" and "snow".
Which organ in the mouth shapes airflow into vowels and consonants?
The tongue changes height to shape vowels and touches the teeth or roof of the mouth to form many consonants.
What should you feel in your throat when saying a voiced consonant like "z"?
Touching the throat while switching between "z" and "s" makes the buzz start and stop.
Which flap of tissue covers the windpipe during swallowing?
The epiglottis folds down with each swallow so food heads to the esophagus, not the lungs.
Which English word contains a gliding vowel called a diphthong?
A diphthong glides from one vowel position to another inside a single syllable, as the "ou" in "loud" does.
Which paired structures in the larynx vibrate to produce the human voice?
Air from the lungs makes the folds buzz, and tighter or looser folds change the pitch.
Which pair shows a voiced English consonant followed by its voiceless partner?
The lips make the same shape for both; "b" adds vocal cord buzz while "p" is just a puff of air.
What do symbols in the International Phonetic Alphabet represent?
One IPA symbol stands for one sound, so speakers of any language read the same pronunciation.