We use it

To get the pronunciation of some words or sounds. It is not a complete list of rules but it is an introduction to give you a general idea of how spelling rules and sounds can work together.

Content

We explain the most important examples with transcriptions, the Schwa and other spelling rules which will help you to improve your speaking skills.

Translation available

Listen to content to improve your pronunciation or translate if you need help with the comprehension.

  • Content Download

  • Resources to Learn Anytime

Download Content about this Chapter to Learn anytime. Exams, Questions and Audios to test your Learning Experience and Improve your English.

RESOURCES
EXAMS

Learn English and Download Free Resources Without Ads or External Pages.

SOUNDS

Consonant + Vowel + Consonant

In words where there is a vowel between two consonants, the vowel sound is short.

- Bed /bed/

- Pet /pet/

- Sit /sɪt/

- Not /nɒt/

SOUNDS

Consonant + Vowel + Consonant + Silent "E"

In those words where the final letter is an "e", that "e" is silent, that means that you do not pronounce it.

So, in words where there is a vowel between two consonants and the final letter is a "silent e",the vowel sound is long or a diphthong.

- Cute /kjuː t/

- Rate /ɹeɪt/

- Site /saɪt/

SOUNDS

Consonant + Vowel

In monosyllabic words ending with a vowel, the final sound is generally a diphthong, except those ending with "e".

When the final spelling of a word is "ee", the sound is /iː /.

- Go /ɡəʊ/

- So /səʊ/

- Me /mɪ/

After a long sound, the /ɹ/ is almost inaudible (except in American English).

- Over /əʊvə(ɹ)/

- More /mɔː(ɹ)/

- Were /wə(ɹ)/

It is the most common sound of the English language.The Schwa can substitute any vowel and only appears in syllables which are not stressed.

- Cancel /kænsəl/

- Submit /səbmɪt/

The Schwa can occur more than once in the same word, like in "another" /ənʌðə(ɹ)/. It also can be placed in the first syllable of a word, in the middle or the last one.

In words ending with -er, the final sound is the Schwa -ə (except in American English).

- Father /fɑː ðə(ɹ)/

- Brother /brʌðə(ɹ)/

In words ending with "a", the final sound is also Schwa -ə.

These two consonants make different sounds depending on the letter that follows them in a word.

SOFT "C"

In words where there is a "C" followed by "E", "I" or "Y", the "C" sound is soft and its phoneme is /s/.

- Cellphone /selfəʊn/

- City /sɪtɪ/

- Police /pəliː s/

HARD "C"

In words where there is a "C" followed by the vowels "A","O","U" or any other letter, the "C" sound is hard and its phoneme is /k/.

- Colour /kʌlə(ɹ)/

- Occur /əkɜː(ɹ)/

- Current /kʌrənt/

SOFT "G"

In words where there is a "G" followed by "E", "I" or "Y", the "G" is soft and it represents the sound that belongs to the letter "J". Its phoneme is /dʒ/.

- Gentle /dʒentl/

- Origin /ɒrɪdʒɪn/

- Gypsy /dʒɪpsɪ/


Be careful! There are exceptions to this rule (Give, Get, Girl, Gill, Geyser)

HARD "G"

In words where there is a "G" followed by the vowels "A", "O", "U" or any other letter, the "G" sound is hard and its phoneme is /g/.

- Guy /ɡaɪ/

- Gas /ɡæs/

- Pig /pɪɡ/

There are some interesting words that include both hard and soft "C" – "G" sounds.

- Garage  /ɡærɑː ʒ/

- Vacancy /veɪkənsɪ/

- Success  /səkses/