Sound Chart

This chart is a work in progress. If you know of a sound that is not represented here, please feel
free to email me at feedback@rachelsenglish.com and I would be very happy to add it.

The Many Ways a Letter Can Be Pronounced in American English, Alone and in
Groupings

LETTER GROUPINGS, SOUND AND EXAMPLE

a ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [ ] ... exact
a ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] ... father
a ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... about
a ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... base, able
a ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... share
aa ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] ... bazaar, aardvark
ai ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... said
ai ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... aisle
ai ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... maid
au ...'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... cause
au ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... gauge
au ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [ ] ... aunt
A
ay ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... says
ay ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... pay
augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... daughter
aw ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... shawl
ea ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... heat
ea ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... ocean
ea ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... head
ea ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] ... heart
ea ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... great
eau ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [ ] ... beauty
ea[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... learn
oa ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... oat
silent ...thumb
B
b ... 'b' as in 'bit' ... [ ] ...bone
C
c ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... casserole
ce ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... ice
ce ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... ocean
cc ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... with 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... accent
ch ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... choir
 ch ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... chance
ch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... chartreuse
ci ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... ancient
ck ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... back
cz ... 't' as in 'time' ... [ ] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... czar (one of two possible
pronunciations)
sch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... schmuck
d ... 'd' as in 'dime' ... [ ] ... dark
D
dge ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [ ] ... judge
ed ... 't' as in 'time' ... [ ] ... tripped
E e ... silent ... there
ce ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... ice
ce ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... ocean
dge ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [ ] ... judge
e ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... shed
e ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... be
e ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... anthem
ea ...'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] ... heart
ea ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... heat
ea ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... head
ea ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... ocean
ea ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... great
ea[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... learn
eau ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [ ] ... beauty
ed ... 't' as in 'time' ... [ ] ... tripped
ee ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ] ... been
ee ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... weep
ei ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... receive
ei ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... veil
eig ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... foreign (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ])
eig ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... reign
eigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... weigh
eigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... height
eo ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... leopard
eo ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... people
ew ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [ ] ... few
 ew ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... blew
ey ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... key
ey ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... they
ie ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... friend
ie ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... brief
ie ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... lie
oe ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... foe
ue ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... blue
ye ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... bye

F f ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... fear

f ... 'v' as in 'van' ... [ ] ... of
, sign
augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... daughter
dge ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [ ] ... judge
eig ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... foreign (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ])
eig ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... reign
eigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... weigh
eigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... height
igh ...'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... sigh
g ... 'g' as in 'gap' ... [ ] ... go
ge ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [ ] ... beige
G
ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] ... ring
ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] with 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... angst
ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] with 'g' as in 'gap' ... [ ] ... anger
ough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... though
ough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... thought
ough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... through
ough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [ ] ... bough
ough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ...
cough
ough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... enough
H silent ... honor, thyme
augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... daughter
ch ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... choir
ch ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... chance
ch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... chartreuse
h ... 'h' as in 'hi' ... [ ] ... happy
 igh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... sigh
eigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... weigh
eigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... height
ough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... though
ough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... thought
ough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... through
ough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [ ] ... bough
ough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ...
cough
ough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... enough
ph ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... phone
sch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... schmuck
sh ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... shame
th ... 'th' as in 'thin' ... [ ] ... thanks
th ... 'th' as in 'this' ... [ ] ... those
I ai ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... said
ai ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... aisle
ai ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... maid
ci ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... ancient
ei ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... receive
ei ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... veil
eig ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... foreign (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ])
eig ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... reign
eigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... weigh
eigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... height
i ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ] ... him
i ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... time
i ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... pencil (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ])
ie ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... friend
ie ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... grieve
ie ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... lie
igh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... sigh
i[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... bird
oi ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [ ] ... moist
oi ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [ ] with 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... choir
ui ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ] ... build
si ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [ ] ... vision
ti ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... motion
 ti ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... mention

j ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [ ] ... joy

J j ... 'y' as in 'yes' ... [ ] ... fjord
j ... 'h' as in 'hi' ... [ ] ... junta
silent ... know
K ck ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... back
k ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... king
silent ... palm
L
l ... 'l' as in 'lap' ... [ ] ... love
M m ... 'm' as in 'map' ... [ ] ... mine
silent ... damn
n ... 'n' as in 'nap' ... [ ] ... name
n ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] ... think
N
ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] ... ring
ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] with 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... angst
ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] with 'g' as in 'gap' ... [ ] ... anger
O eo ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... leopard
eo ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... people
o ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [ ] with 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] ... one
o ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ] ... women
o ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... do
o ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [ ] ... wolf
o ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... go
o ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] ... love
o ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... bottom
oa ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... oat
oe ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... foe
oi ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [ ] ... moist
oi ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [ ] with 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... choir
oo ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... too
oo ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [ ] ... wood
oo ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] ... blood
oo ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... brooch
ou ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... you
ou ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [ ] ... could
ou ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] ... trouble
ou ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... soul
ou ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [ ] ... round
 ou[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... journey
o[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... word
ough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... though
ough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... thought
ough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... through
ough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [ ] ... bough
ough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ...
cough
ough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... enough
ow ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [ ] ... cow
ow ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... row
oy ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [ ] ... joy
wo ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... two
p ... 'p' as in 'pit' ... [ ] ... pear
P
ph ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... phone
Q q ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... quiet
R r ... 'r' as in 'run' ... [ ] ... rat
silent ... island
s ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... some
s ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [ ] ... his
sch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... schmuck
S si ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [ ] ... vision
sh ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... shame
ss ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ]... issue
ss ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ...miss
ss ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [ ] ... possession
silent ... fasten
t ... 't' as in 'time' ... [ ] ... tap
th ... 'th' as in 'thin' ... [ ] ... thanks
T th ... 'th' as in 'this' ... [ ] ... those
ti ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... motion
ti ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... mention
U silent ... plague (it signals a hard G without being pronounced)
au ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... cause
au ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... gauge
au ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [ ] ... aunt
 augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... daughter
eau ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [ ] ... beauty
ou ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] ... trouble
ou ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [ ] ... could
ou ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... you
ou ... ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... soul
ou ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [ ] ... round
ough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... though
ough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... thought
ough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... through
ough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [ ] ... bough
ough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ...
cough
ough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... enough
ou[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... journey
u ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... autumn
u ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] ... up
u ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [ ] ... union
u ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... bury
u ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [ ] ... full
u ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... flute
u ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [ ] ... quiet
ue ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... blue
ui ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ] ... build
u[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... burn
V v ... 'v' as in 'van' ... [ ] ... voice
silent ... gnome
aw ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... shawl
ew ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [ ] ... few
W ew ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... blew
ow ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [ ] ... cow
ow ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... row
w ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [ ] ... wise
wo ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... two
x ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... ax, expert
X x ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [ ] ... xylophone
x ... 'g' as in 'gap' ... [ ] with 'z' as in 'zip' ... [ ] ... exhibit
Y ay ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... says
ay ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... pay
ey ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... key
 ey ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... they
oy ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [ ] ... joy
y ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ] ... crypt
y ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... syringe
y ... 'y' as in 'yes' ... [ ] ... you
y ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... rhyme, my
y ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... melody
ye ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... bye
y[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... myrtle
cz ... 't' as in 'time' ... [ ] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... czar (one of two possible
pronunciations)
z ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [ ] ... lazy
Z
z ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [ ] ... azure
z ... 't' as in 'time' ... [ ] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] .. Nazi
z ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... ritz

Source: http://www.rachelsenglish.com/sound_chart