IPA symbols for English consonants

Many IPA symbols represent the same sound that the corresponding English letters do -- [p], [b], [m], [f], [v], [t], [d], [l], [w] -- though even for these you have to be careful. Other symbols are a bit harder.

The following table is a quick summary of the consonant symbols for English. Click on the example words to get the individual pages for each vowel, where you'll find more examples (with sound files) and explanations.

pay [p]
bay [b]
may [m]
tie [t]
die [d]
no [n]
cake [k]
go [ɡ]
sing [ŋ]
fee [f]
vow [v]
so [s]
zoo [z]
thigh [θ]
they [ð]
show [ʃ]
Jacques [ʒ]
church    [tʃ]
judge [dʒ]
lie [l]
rye [ɹ]
yes [j]
weigh [w]
hay [h]
   
 

 

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