Phonetic Alphabet Quick Reference Table
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system of phonetic notation used to represent the sounds of spoken language. It is used by linguists, language teachers, and speech therapists, among others. The IPA consists of symbols that correspond to the sounds of speech. Below is a quick reference table of the IPA symbols and their pronunciation.
Consonants
Bilabial Consonants
Symbol |
Sound |
Example |
/p/ |
voiceless bilabial plosive |
pat |
/b/ |
voiced bilabial plosive |
bat |
/m/ |
voiced bilabial nasal |
mat |
Dental Consonants
Symbol |
Sound |
Example |
/θ/ |
voiceless dental fricative |
thin |
/e/ |
voiced dental fricative |
this |
/n/ |
voiced dental nasal |
thin |
Vowels
Front Vowels
Symbol |
Sound |
Example |
/i/ |
close front unrounded vowel |
hit |
/?/ |
near-close near-front unrounded vowel |
sit |
/e/ |
close-mid front unrounded vowel |
met |
Back Vowels
Symbol |
Sound |
Example |
/u/ |
close back rounded vowel |
moon |
/?/ |
near-close near-back rounded vowel |
put |
/o/ |
close-mid back rounded vowel |
note |
The IPA is an important tool for those studying languages and speech, as it allows for consistent and accurate representation of sounds across different languages and dialects. By learning the IPA symbols and their corresponding sounds, learners can improve their pronunciation and comprehension of spoken language.
