The Basics
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a standardized system of symbols for representing the sounds of spoken language. Unlike English spelling, where one letter can represent many sounds (like the 'a' in cat, father, and mate), each IPA symbol represents exactly one sound.
Common English Vowels
| Symbol | Example Word | Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| /iː/ | see | /siː/ |
| /æ/ | cat | /kæt/ |
| /ɑː/ | father | /ˈfɑːðər/ |
| /ə/ | about | /əˈbaʊt/ |
| /ɪ/ | sit | /sɪt/ |
| /ʊ/ | book | /bʊk/ |
Common English Consonants
| Symbol | Example Word | Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| /θ/ | think | /θɪŋk/ |
| /ð/ | this | /ðɪs/ |
| /ʃ/ | she | /ʃiː/ |
| /ʒ/ | measure | /ˈmɛʒər/ |
| /tʃ/ | chicken | /ˈtʃɪkən/ |
| /dʒ/ | jump | /dʒʌmp/ |
Stress Marks
In IPA, word stress is marked with a small vertical line (ˈ) placed before the stressed syllable.
Example: accent = /ˈæksɛnt/
The stress is on the first syllable
Secondary stress is marked with ˌ placed before the secondary stressed syllable.
Example: recognition = /ˌriːkəɡˈnɪʃən/