IPA & Sounds

Pronunciation & IPA Guides

Plain-English guides to the sounds behind the symbols. Read the IPA in any dictionary, then type the word into the Studio and hear it out loud.

Showing 4 of 16 guides

IPA & Sounds Most common vowel

The Schwa Sound (ə): English's Most Common Vowel

about = /əˈbaʊt/ = uh-BOWT

The schwa sound is the weak 'uh' in unstressed syllables, written /ə/. Learn what schwa is, how it works, and why it is the most common vowel in English.

9 min read Read the guide →
IPA & Sounds Vowel map

English Vowel Sounds: The IPA Vowel Chart Explained

iː ɪ e æ ɑː ʌ ʊ uː ə

English has around 20 vowel sounds but only 5 vowel letters. This guide explains the English vowel sounds in IPA, with a plain-English vowel chart and audio.

9 min read Read the guide →
IPA & Sounds Two sounds

The Two TH Sounds in English: /θ/ vs /ð/

think /θ/ · this /ð/

English writes two TH sounds with the same letters: the quiet /θ/ in think and the buzzing /ð/ in this. Learn the TH sound in IPA, with respelling and audio.

8 min read Read the guide →
IPA & Sounds Throat test

Voiced vs Voiceless Consonants

/s/ off · /z/ on

A consonant is voiced if your vocal cords vibrate and voiceless if they do not. Learn voiced and voiceless consonants with the pairs, the throat test, and audio.

8 min read Read the guide →