Дидани манбаъи Роҳнамо:IPA for English

==Key==
If the words given as examples for two different symbols sound the same to you (for example, if you pronounce ''cot'' and ''caught'' the same, or ''do'' and ''dew'', or ''marry'' and ''merry''), you can pronounce those symbols the same in explanations of all words. The footnotes explain some of these mergers. (See also [[#Dialect variation|Dialect variation]] below.)

If there is an IPA symbol you are looking for that you do not see here, see [[Help:IPA]], which is a more complete list. For a table listing all spellings of the sounds on this page, see {{section link|English orthography|Sound-to-spelling correspondences}}. For help converting spelling to pronunciation, see {{section link|English orthography|Spelling-to-sound correspondences}}.

{| style="background:none"
| style="vertical-align:top" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:90%"
! colspan="2"| [[Consonant]]s
|-
! style="width:3em" | IPA !! Examples
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|b}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''b'''uy, ca'''b'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|d}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''d'''ye, ca'''d''', la'''dd'''er{{refn|name=flapping|In varieties with [[flapping]], {{IPA|/t/}} and sometimes also {{IPA|/d/}} between a vowel and a weak or word-initial vowel may be pronounced with a voiced tap {{IPAblink|ɾ}}, making ''latter'' sound similar or identical to ''ladder''. Some dictionaries transcribe {{IPA|/t/}} subject to this process as {{angbr IPA|d}} or {{angbr IPA|t̬}}, but they are not distinguished in this transcription system. In those varieties, the sequence {{IPA|/nt/}} in the same environment (as in ''winter'') may also be realized as a [[nasalized]] tap {{IPAblink|ɾ̃}}, which may sound similar or identical to {{IPA|/n/}}. This is also not distinguished in this system.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|dj}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''d'''ew{{refn|name=yod|In dialects with [[yod dropping]], {{IPA|/j/}} in {{IPA|/juː/}} or {{IPA|/jʊər/}} is not pronounced after [[coronal consonant]]s ({{IPA|/t/}}, {{IPA|/d/}}, {{IPA|/s/}}, {{IPA|/z/}}, {{IPA|/n/}}, {{IPA|/θ/}}, and {{IPA|/l/}}) in the same syllable, so that ''dew'' {{IPA|/djuː/}} is pronounced the same as ''do'' {{IPA|/duː/}}. In dialects with [[yod coalescence]], {{IPA|/tj/}} and {{IPA|/dj/}} mostly merge with {{IPA|/tʃ/}} and {{IPA|/dʒ/}}, so that the first syllable in ''Tuesday'' is pronounced the same as ''choose''. In some dialects {{IPA|/sj/}} and {{IPA|/zj/}} are also affected and frequently merge with {{IPA|/ʃ/}} and {{IPA|/ʒ/}}. Where {{IPA|/j/}} in {{IPA|/juː/}} or {{IPA|/jʊər/}} following a coronal is still pronounced in yod-dropping accents, place a syllable break before it: ''menu'' {{IPA|/ˈmɛn.juː/}}.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|dʒ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''g'''iant, ba'''dge'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ð}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''th'''y, brea'''the''', fa'''th'''er
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|f}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''f'''an, ca'''ff'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɡ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''g'''uy, ba'''g'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|h}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''h'''igh, a'''h'''ead
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|hw}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''wh'''y{{refn|The phoneme {{IPA|/hw/}} is not distinguished from {{IPA|/w/}} in the many dialects with the [[Wine–whine merger|''wine''–''whine'' merger]], such as RP and most varieties of General American. For more information on this sound, see [[voiceless labialized velar approximant]].}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|j}}}}{{refn|The IPA value of the letter {{angbr IPA|j}} may be counterintuitive to English speakers, but the spelling is found even in some common English words like ''[[hallelujah]]'' and ''[[fjord]]''.}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''y'''es, hallelu'''j'''ah
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|k}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | s'''k'''y, '''c'''ra'''ck'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|l}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{Not a typo|'''l'''ie, s'''l'''y, ga'''l'''}}{{refn|{{IPA|/l/}} in the [[syllable coda]], as in the words ''all'', ''cold'', or ''bottle'', is pronounced as {{IPAblink|o}}, {{IPAblink|u}}, {{IPAblink|w}} or a similar sound in many dialects through [[L-vocalization]].}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|lj}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''l'''ute{{refn|name=yod}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|m}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''m'''y, s'''m'''ile, ca'''m'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|n}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''n'''igh, s'''n'''ide, ca'''n'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|nj}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''n'''ew{{refn|name=yod}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ŋ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | sa'''ng''', si'''n'''k, si'''ng'''er
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|p}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{Not a typo|'''p'''ie, s'''p'''y, ca'''p'''}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|r}}}}{{refn|In most varieties of English, {{IPA|/r/}} is pronounced as an approximant {{IPA|[ɹ]}}. Although the IPA symbol {{angbr IPA|r}} represents a [[alveolar trill|trill]], {{angbr IPA|r}} is widely used instead of {{angbr IPA|ɹ}} in broad transcriptions of English.}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''r'''ye, t'''r'''y, ve'''r'''y
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|s}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''s'''igh, ma'''ss'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|sj}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | con'''s'''ume{{refn|name=yod}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ʃ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''sh'''y, ca'''sh''', emo'''ti'''on
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|t}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{Not a typo|'''t'''ie, s'''t'''y, ca'''t''', la'''tt'''er}}{{refn|name=flapping}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|tj}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''t'''une{{refn|name=yod}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|tʃ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''Ch'''ina, ca'''tch'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|θ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''th'''igh, ma'''th'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|θj}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | en'''th'''use{{refn|name=yod}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|v}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{Not a typo|'''v'''ie, ha'''ve'''}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|w}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''w'''ye, s'''w'''ine
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|z}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''z'''oo, ha'''s'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|zj}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''Z'''eus{{refn|name=yod}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ʒ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | plea'''s'''ure, bei'''g'''e{{refn|A number of English words, such as ''genre'' and ''garage'', may be pronounced with either {{IPA|/ʒ/}} or {{IPA|/dʒ/}}.}}
|-
| colspan="4" style="border-left: #fff solid 1px; border-right: #fff solid 1px; background: #fff" | &nbsp;
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Marginal phoneme|Marginal segments]]
|-
! IPA !! Examples
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|x}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | u'''gh''', lo'''ch''', '''Ch'''anukah{{refn|In most dialects, {{IPA|/x/}} can also be replaced by {{IPA|/k/}} in most words, including ''loch''. It is also replaced with {{IPA|/h/}} in some words, particularly of Yiddish origin, such as ''Chanukah''.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ʔ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | uh'''-'''oh {{nowrap|{{IPA|/ˈʔʌʔoʊ/}}}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɒ̃}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | b'''on''' viv'''an'''t{{refn|name=nasalvowel|{{IPA|/ɒ̃, æ̃/}} are only found in French loanwords and often replaced by another vowel and a nasal consonant: ''bon vivant'' {{nowrap|{{IPA|/ˌbɒn viːˈvɒnt/}}}}, ''ensemble'' {{nowrap|{{IPA|/ɒnˈsɒmbəl/}}}}, etc.{{efn|{{harvp|Jones|2011}}.}}}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|æ̃}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | f'''in''' de siècle{{refn|name=nasalvowel}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɜː}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | M'''ö'''bius {{small|(UK only)}}{{refn|{{IPA|/ɜː/}} is only found in loanwords and represents a situation where such an ''r''-less vowel is used only in British or Southern Hemisphere accents, and therefore a transcription that includes it must always be prefaced with a label indicating the variety of English. It is to be used only when a reliable source shows that General American has a different vowel in the same position. If ''r''-ful {{sc2|NURSE}} is used even in GA, even if spelled without {{angbr|r}}, as in ''Goethe'' and ''hors d'oeuvre'', use {{IPA|/ɜːr/}}. {{IPA|/ɜː/}} is also not the same as {{angbr|œ}} seen in some American dictionaries. {{angbr|œ}} in those dictionaries is merely a notational convention and does not correspond to any vowel in any accent of English, so a transcription containing {{angbr|œ}} cannot be converted to one that uses this key.}}
|}

| style="vertical-align: top" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4"| [[Vowel]]s
|-
! colspan="2" | Strong vowels !! colspan="2" | ...followed by R{{refn|In [[Rhotic and non-rhotic accents|non-rhotic accents]] like RP, {{IPA|/r/}} is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel.}}
|-
! IPA !! Examples !! IPA !! Examples
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɑː}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|P'''A'''LM}}, f'''a'''ther, br'''a'''
| {{big|{{IPA|ɑːr}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|ST'''AR'''T}}, st'''ar'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɒ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|L'''O'''T}}, p'''o'''d, J'''o'''hn, bl'''o'''ckade{{refn|In dialects with the [[Father–bother merger|''father''–''bother'' merger]] such as General American, {{IPA|/ɒ/}} is not distinguished from {{IPA|/ɑː/}}.}}
| {{big|{{IPA|ɒr}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | m'''or'''al, f'''or'''age{{refn|In most of the United States, {{IPA|/ɒr/}} is merged with {{IPA|/ɔːr/}}, except for a handful of words such as ''borrow'', ''tomorrow'' and ''sorry'', which are realized with {{IPA|/ɑːr/}}. In some parts of the Southern and Northeastern US, it is always merged with {{IPA|/ɑːr/}}. In Canada, it is always merged with {{IPA|/ɔːr/}}.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|æ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|TR'''A'''P}}, p'''a'''d, t'''a'''ttoo{{refn|In North America, {{IPA|/æ/}} is often pronounced like a diphthong {{IPA|[eə~ɛə]}} before nasal consonants and, in some particular regional dialects, other environments. See [[:/æ/ raising|{{IPA|/æ/}} raising]].}}
| {{big|{{IPA|ær}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | b'''arr'''ow, m'''arr'''y{{refn|name=marymarrymerry|{{IPA|/ær/}}, {{IPA|/ɛr/}} and {{IPA|/ɛər/}} are not distinguished in many North American accents ([[Mary–marry–merry merger|''Mary''–''marry''–''merry'' merger]]). Some speakers merge only two of the sounds (most typically {{IPA|/ɛər/}} with one of the short vowels) and less than a fifth of speakers of American English make a full three-way distinction, like RP and similar accents.{{efn|{{cite web|last1=Vaux|first1=Bert|last2=Golder|first2=Scott|year=2003|url=https://www4.uwm.edu/FLL/linguistics/dialect/staticmaps/q_15.html|title=How do you pronounce Mary/merry/marry?|work=Harvard Dialect Survey|publisher=Harvard University Linguistics Department}}}}}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|aɪ}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|PR'''I'''CE}}, r'''i'''de, p'''ie'''{{refn|name=CanadianRaising|In much of North America, {{IPA|/aɪ/}} or {{IPA|/aʊ/}} may have a slightly different quality when it precedes a [[voiceless]] consonant, as in ''price'' or ''mouth'', from that in ''ride/pie'' or ''loud/how'', a phenomenon known as [[Canadian raising]]. Since this occurs in a predictable fashion, it is not distinguished in this transcription system.}}
| {{big|{{IPA|aɪər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''Ire'''land, h'''ire'''{{refn|name=triphthong|In some dialects, especially in the UK, the second segment in a diphthong followed by {{IPA|/ə/}} is often omitted. This process or lack thereof may help choose between {{IPA|/aɪər, aʊər, ɔɪər/}} in some words (''diary, admirer'') and {{IPA|/aɪr, aʊr, ɔɪr/}} in others (''pirate, siren''), a distinction not always clear.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|aɪ.ər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | h'''igher''', b'''uyer'''{{refn|name=hire|Some speakers pronounce ''higher, flower, mayor'' and ''coyer'' ("more coy") with two syllables, and ''hire, flour, mare'' and ''coir'' with one. Others pronounce them the same.}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|aʊ}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|M'''OU'''TH}}, l'''ou'''d, d'''ow'''n, h'''ow'''{{refn|name=CanadianRaising}}
| {{big|{{IPA|aʊər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | fl'''our'''{{refn|name=triphthong}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|aʊ.ər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | fl'''ower'''{{refn|name=hire}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɛ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|DR'''E'''SS}}, b'''e'''t, pr'''e'''stige{{refn|{{IPA|/ɛ/}} is transcribed as {{angbr IPA|e}} by many dictionaries.{{efn|{{cite web|last=Wells|first=John|date=18 March 2009|url=http://phonetic-blog.blogspot.com/2009/03/e-and.html|title=e and ɛ|work=John Wells's phonetic blog}}}} However, {{IPA|/eɪ/}} is also sometimes transcribed as {{angbr IPA|e}}, especially in American literature, so {{angbr IPA|ɛ}} is chosen here.}}
| {{big|{{IPA|ɛr}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''err'''or, m'''err'''y{{refn|name=marymarrymerry}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|eɪ}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|F'''A'''CE}}, m'''a'''de, f'''ai'''l, v'''ei'''n, p'''ay'''
| {{big|{{IPA|ɛər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|SQU'''ARE'''}}, m'''are''', sc'''ar'''ce, c'''air'''n, M'''ar'''y{{refn|name=marymarrymerry}}{{refn|name=centering|{{IPA|/ɛə/}}, {{IPA|/ɪə/}}, or {{IPA|/ʊə/}} may be separated from {{IPA|/r/}} only when a stress follows it. The [[Template:IPAc-en|IPAc-en]] template supports {{IPA|/ɛəˈr/}}, {{IPA|/ɪəˈr/}}, {{IPA|/ʊəˈr/}}, {{IPA|/ɛəˌr/}}, {{IPA|/ɪəˌr/}}, and {{IPA|/ʊəˌr/}} as distinct diaphonemes for such occasions.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|eɪər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | pl'''ayer'''{{refn|name=hire}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɪ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|K'''I'''T}}, l'''i'''d, h'''i'''storic{{refn|name=strong-weak|{{IPA|/ɪ/}} and {{IPA|/oʊ/}} may be strong or weak depending on context.{{efn|{{harvp|Flemming|Johnson|2007|pp=91–2}}.}} Whether an instance of unstressed {{IPA|/ɪ/}} is strong or weak may not be clear in some circumstances.{{efn|{{cite web|last=Wells|first=John|date=25 March 2011|url=http://phonetic-blog.blogspot.com/2011/03/strong-and-weak.html|title=strong and weak|work=John Wells's phonetic blog}}}}}}
| {{big|{{IPA|ɪr}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | m'''irr'''or, S'''ir'''ius
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|iː}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|FL'''EE'''CE}}, s'''ee'''d, m'''ea'''n, pedigr'''ee''', id'''e'''a{{refn|name=smoothing|Words like ''idea, real, theatre'', and ''cruel'' may be pronounced with {{IPA|/ɪə/}} or {{IPA|/ʊə/}} in non-rhotic accents such as Received Pronunciation, and some dictionaries transcribe them with {{IPA|/ɪə, ʊə/}},{{efn|name=wells-smoothing|{{harvp|Wells|1982|p=240}}.}} but since they do not stem from historical {{IPA|/r/}} and are not pronounced with {{IPA|/r/}} in rhotic accents, they should be transcribed with {{IPA|/iːə, uːə/}}, not with {{IPA|/ɪə, ʊə/}}, in this transcription system.}}
| {{big|{{IPA|ɪər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|N'''EAR'''}}, b'''ear'''d, f'''ier'''ce, s'''er'''ious{{refn|name=centering}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|iːər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | fr'''eer'''
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|oʊ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|G'''OA'''T}}, c'''o'''de, g'''o''', f'''oa'''l{{refn|{{IPA|/oʊ/}} is transcribed with {{angbr IPA|əʊ}} for Received Pronunciation.}}{{refn|name=strong-weak}}
| {{big|{{IPA|oʊər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | m'''ower'''
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|ɔː}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|TH'''OUGH'''T}}, M'''au'''d, d'''aw'''n, f'''a'''ll, str'''aw'''{{refn|{{IPA|/ɔː/}} is not distinguished from {{IPA|/ɒ/}} in dialects with the [[Cot–caught merger|''cot''–''caught'' merger]] such as Scottish English, Canadian English and many varieties of General American. In North America, the two vowels most often fall together with {{IPA|/ɑː/}}.}}
| {{big|{{IPA|ɔːr}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|N'''OR'''TH}}, {{sc2|F'''OR'''CE}}, h'''or'''se, h'''oar'''se, '''aur'''al{{refn|Some conservative dialects make a distinction between the vowels in ''horse'' and ''hoarse'', but the number of speakers who make this distinction any longer is very small and many dictionaries do not differentiate between them ([[horse–hoarse merger|''horse''–''hoarse'' merger]]). The vowel in ''hoarse'' was formerly represented as {{IPA|/ɔər/}} on Wikipedia, but is now represented as {{IPA|/ɔːr/}}, identical to ''horse''.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɔːər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | s'''awer'''
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|ɔɪ}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|CH'''OI'''CE}}, v'''oi'''d, b'''oy'''
| {{big|{{IPA|ɔɪər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | c'''oir'''{{refn|name=triphthong}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɔɪ.ər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | empl'''oyer'''{{refn|name=hire}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ʊ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|F'''OO'''T}}, g'''oo'''d, f'''u'''ll
| {{big|{{IPA|ʊr}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | c'''our'''ier
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|uː}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|G'''OO'''SE}}, f'''oo'''d, tiss'''ue''', cr'''u'''el{{refn|name=smoothing}}
| {{big|{{IPA|ʊər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | b'''oor''', m'''oor''', t'''our'''ist, {{nowrap|{{sc2|C'''URE'''}} {{small|({{IPA|/ˈkjʊər/}})}}}}{{refn|name=centering}}{{refn|{{IPA|/ʊər/}} is not distinguished from {{IPA|/ɔːr/}} in dialects with the [[cure–force merger|''cure''–''force'' merger]], including many younger speakers. In England, the merger may not be fully consistent and may only apply to more common words. In conservative RP and Northern England English {{IPA|/ʊər/}} is much more commonly preserved than in modern RP and Southern England English. In Australia and New Zealand, {{IPA|/ʊər/}} does not exist as a separate phoneme and is replaced either by the sequence {{IPA|/uːər/}} ({{IPA|/uːr/}} before vowels within the same word, save for some compounds) or the monophthong {{IPA|/ɔːr/}}.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|uːər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | tr'''uer'''
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|ʌ}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|STR'''U'''T}}, b'''u'''d, '''u'''ntidy, j'''u'''sticiable{{refn|Some, particularly American, dictionaries notate {{IPA|/ʌ/}} with the same symbol as {{IPA|/ə/}}, which is found only in unstressed syllables, and distinguish it from {{IPA|/ə/}} by marking the syllable as stressed. Also note that although {{angbr IPA|ʌ}}, the IPA symbol for the [[open-mid back unrounded vowel|open-mid back vowel]], is used, the typical modern pronunciation is rather close to the [[near-open central unrounded vowel|near-open central vowel]] {{IPA|[ɐ]}} in both Received Pronunciation and General American.}}{{refn|{{IPA|/ʌ/}} is not used in the dialects of the northern half of England, some bordering parts of Wales, and some broad eastern Ireland accents. These words would take the {{IPA|/ʊ/}} vowel: there is no [[Foot–strut split|''foot''–''strut'' split]].}}
| {{big|{{IPA|ɜːr}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|N'''UR'''SE}}, w'''or'''d, g'''ir'''l, f'''er'''n, f'''urr'''y, B'''er'''lin, '''Er'''nesto{{refn|In Received Pronunciation, {{IPA|/ɜːr/}} is pronounced as a lengthened schwa, {{IPA|[əː]}}. In General American, it is phonetically identical to {{IPA|/ər/}}. Some dictionaries therefore use {{angbr IPA|əː, ər}} instead of the conventional notations {{angbr IPA|ɜː, ɜr}}. When {{angbr IPA|ər}} is used for {{IPA|/ɜːr/}}, it is distinguished from {{IPA|/ər/}} by marking the syllable as stressed. Word-initially, {{IPA|/ər/}} never occurs, giving way to {{IPA|/ɜːr/}}. Where there is a free variation between {{IPA|/ɜːr/}} and {{IPA|/ər/}} in RP, it is acceptable to transcribe only the more common variant (e.g. {{IPA|/ər/}} for ''persona'').}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ʌr}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | h'''urr'''y, n'''our'''ish{{refn|{{IPA|/ʌr/}} is not distinguished from {{IPA|/ɜːr/}} in dialects with the [[Hurry–furry merger|''hurry''–''furry'' merger]] such as General American.}}
|-
! colspan="4" |[[Stress and vowel reduction in English|Weak vowels]]
|-
! IPA !! Examples !! IPA !! Examples
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ə}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|COMM'''A'''}}, foc'''u'''s, '''a'''ddition, abb'''o'''t
| {{big|{{IPA|ər}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|LETT'''ER'''}}, p'''er'''ceive, hist'''or'''y{{refn|name=syllabic}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ɪ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | '''e'''dition, rabb'''i'''t, Lat'''i'''n, heat'''i'''ng{{refn|name=strong-weak}}{{refn|In accents with the [[weak vowel merger]] such as most Australian and American accents, {{IPA|/ɪ/}} in unstressed positions is not distinguished from {{IPA|/ə/}}, making ''rabbit'' and ''abbot'' rhyme and ''Lenin'' and ''Lennon'' homophonous. Pairs like ''roses'' and ''Rosa's'' are kept distinct in American accents because of the difference in morphological structure,{{efn|{{harvp|Flemming|Johnson|2007|pp=94–5}}.}} but may be homophonous in Australian.{{efn|{{harvp|Wells|1982|p=601}}.}} In these accents, unstressed {{IPA|/ɪl, ɪn, ɪm/}} merge with {{IPA|/əl, ən, əm/}}, so that the second vowel in ''Latin'' may be lost and ''cabinet'' may be disyllabic (see the previous note).}}
| {{big|{{IPA|oʊ}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | mott'''o''', retr'''o'''active, foll'''ow'''er{{refn|name=strong-weak}}{{refn|name=schwa-w|{{IPA|/oʊ/}} and {{IPA|/u/}} in unstressed, prevocalic positions are transcribed as {{IPA|/əw/}} by Merriam-Webster, but no other dictionary uniformly follows this practice.{{efn|{{cite web |last=Windsor Lewis |first=Jack |authorlink=Jack Windsor Lewis |date=10 April 2009 |url=http://www.yek.me.uk/archive18.html#blog174 |title=The Elephant in the Room |work=PhonetiBlog}}}} Hence a difference between {{IPA|/əw/}} in Merriam-Webster and {{IPA|/oʊ/}} or {{IPA|/u/}} in another source is most likely one in notation, not in pronunciation, so {{IPA|/əw/}} in such cases may be better replaced with {{IPA|/oʊ/}} or {{IPA|/u/}} accordingly, to minimize confusion: {{IPA|/ˌsɪtʃəˈweɪʃən/}} → {{IPA|/ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃən/}}, {{IPA|/ˈfɒləwər/}} → {{IPA|/ˈfɒloʊər/}}.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|i}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | {{sc2|HAPP'''Y'''}}, med'''i'''ocre{{refn|name=i-u|{{angbr IPA|i}} represents variation between {{IPA|/iː/}} and {{IPA|/ɪ/}} in unstressed positions. It is realized with a quality closer to {{IPA|/iː/}} in accents with [[Happy tensing|''happy'' tensing]], such as Australian English, General American, and modern RP, and to {{IPA|/ɪ/}} in others. {{angbr IPA|u}} likewise represents variation between {{IPA|/uː/}} and {{IPA|/ʊ/}}, but is restricted to not only unstressed but prevocalic positions.}}
| {{big|{{IPA|iə}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | ser'''iou'''s, Californ'''ia'''{{refn|The sequence {{angbr IPA|iə}} may be pronounced as two syllables, {{IPA|[i.ə]}} or {{IPA|[ɪ.ə]}}, or as one, {{IPA|[jə]}} or {{IPA|[ɪə̯]}}. When pronounced as one syllable in a non-rhotic accent, it may be indistinguishable from, and identified as, the {{sc2|NEAR}} vowel ({{IPA|/ɪər/}}).{{efn|name=wells-smoothing}} This transcription system uses {{angbr IPA|iə}}, not {{angbr IPA|i.ə}}, {{angbr IPA|ɪə}}, etc., to cover all these possibilities.}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|u}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | fr'''u'''ition{{refn|name=schwa-w}}{{refn|name=i-u}}
| {{big|{{IPA|uə}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | infl'''ue'''nce{{refn|The sequence {{angbr IPA|uə}} may be pronounced as two syllables, {{IPA|[u.ə]}} or {{IPA|[ʊ.ə]}}, or as one, {{IPA|[wə]}} or {{IPA|[ʊə̯]}}. When pronounced as one syllable in a non-rhotic accent, it may be indistinguishable from, and identified as, the {{sc2|CURE}} vowel ({{IPA|/ʊər/}}).{{efn|name=wells-smoothing}} This transcription system uses {{angbr IPA|uə}}, not {{angbr IPA|u.ə}}, {{angbr IPA|ʊə}}, etc., to cover all these possibilities.}}
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Syllabic consonant]]s{{refn|name=syllabic|In a number of contexts, {{IPA|/ə/}} in {{IPA|/ər/}}, {{IPA|/əl/}}, {{IPA|/ən/}}, or {{IPA|/əm/}} is often omitted, resulting in a syllable with no vowel. Some dictionaries show {{IPA|/ə/}} in those contexts in parentheses, superscript, or italics to indicate this possibility, or simply omit {{IPA|/ə/}}. When followed by a weak vowel, the syllable may be lost altogether, with the consonant moving to the next syllable, so that ''doubling'' {{nowrap|{{IPA|/ˈdʌb.əl.ɪŋ/}}}} may alternatively be pronounced as {{nowrap|{{IPA|[ˈdʌb.lɪŋ]}}}}, and ''Edinburgh'' {{nowrap|{{IPA|/ˈɛd.ɪn.bər.ə/}}}} as {{nowrap|{{IPA|[ˈɛd.ɪn.brə]}}}}.<!-- Symbols are deliberately kept diaphonemic since their realizations vary. -->{{efn|{{harvp|Wells|2008|pp=173, 799}}.}} When not followed by a vowel, {{IPA|/ər/}} merges with {{IPA|/ə/}} in non-rhotic accents.}}
|-
! IPA !! Examples !! IPA !! Examples
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|əl}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | bott'''le''' {{small|(either {{IPA|[əl]}} or {{IPA|[l̩]}})}}
| {{big|{{IPA|ən}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | butt'''on''' {{small|(either {{IPA|[ən]}} or {{IPA|[n̩]}})}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|əm}}}}
| style="text-align: left" | rhyth'''m''' {{small|(either {{IPA|[əm]}} or {{IPA|[m̩]}})}}
|-
| colspan="4" style="border-left: #fff solid 1px; border-right: #fff solid 1px; background:#fff" | &nbsp;
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Stress (linguistics)|Stress]]{{refn|The IPA stress mark ({{IPA|ˈ}}) comes ''before'' the syllable that has the stress, in contrast to stress marking in [[Pronunciation respelling for English|pronunciation keys of some dictionaries published in the United States]].}}
! colspan="2" | [[Syllabification]]
|-
! IPA !! Examples
! IPA !! Examples
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ˈ}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{nowrap|'''in'''to'''na'''tion {{IPA|/ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən/}}}}
| rowspan="2" | {{big|{{IPA|.}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | {{nowrap|{{IPA|/ˈhaɪər/}} hire}}, {{nowrap|{{IPA|/ˈhaɪ.ər/}} higher{{refn|Syllable divisions are not usually marked, but the IPA dot {{angbr IPA|.}} may be used when it is wished to make explicit where a division between syllables is (or may be) made.}}}}<br>{{nowrap|{{IPA|/ˈtæks.peɪər/}} taxpayer}}
|-
| {{big|{{IPA|ˌ}}}}
|}
|}

'''Notes'''
* Words in {{sc2|SMALL CAPITALS}} are the standard [[Lexical set#Wells Standard Lexical Sets for English|lexical sets]]. Words in the lexical sets {{sc2|BATH}} and {{sc2|CLOTH}} may be given two transcriptions, the former either with {{IPA|/ɑː/}} or {{IPA|/æ/}}, the latter with {{IPA|/ɒ/}} or {{IPA|/ɔː/}}.
* The length mark {{angbr IPA|ː}} does not mean that the vowels transcribed with it are always longer than those without it. When unstressed, followed by a voiceless consonant, or in a polysyllabic word, a vowel in the former group is frequently shorter than the latter in other environments (see {{section link|Clipping (phonetics)|English}}).