Key to pronunciations (British and

World English dictionary)

The pronunciations given represent the standard accent of English as spoken in the south of England (sometimes
called Received Pronunciation or RP), and the example words given in this key are to be understood as pronounced in
such speech.

Consonants
The letters b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w, and z have their usual English values. Other symbols are used as follows:

Symbo
l

Example
as in

get

chip

jar

loch

ring

thin

this

she

decision

yes

Vowels

Symbol

Example

Short
vowels
a

as
in

cat

bed

ago

sit

cosy

hot

run

put

Long
vowels

arm

hair

her

see

saw

too

Diphthong
s

my

how

day

no

near

boy

poor

Triphthong
s

fire

sour