Academy of Public Administration

ENGLISH
English Language Course 2014-2015 with Ana Gorea

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Pronunciation Practice Exercises
 THE ENGLISH ALPHABET
A [ei] B [bi:] C [si:] D [di:] E [i:]
F [ef] G [d i] H [eit ] I [ai] J [d ei]
K [kei] L [el] M [em] N [en] O [ou]
P [pi:] Q [kju:] R [a:] S [es] T [ti:]
U [ju:] V [vi:] W[d bl ju:] X [eks] Y [wai] Z [zed]
The English alphabet has 26 letters. Six letters are vowels [A, E, I, O, U, Y] and 20 are consonants.
The 26 letters produce 44 sounds. The 44 sounds have symbols called transcription signs. They are
divided into:

Short vowels

Long vowels

Diphthongs (double vowel sounds)

Voiceless consonants

Voiced consonants

Other consonants

Choose a v
Reading rules

1
The six vowels [a, e, i, o, u, y] are pronounced in stressed syllables differently in four positions:
open syllable, closed syllable, vowel + r + consonant, vowel + r + vowel. In an open syllable,
which ends in a vowel, they are pronounced like in the alphabet; in a closed syllable, which ends in
a consonant, they are pronounced as a short sound; in the 3 rd type of syllable they produce a long
sound; in the 4th type of syllable they are pronounced as diphthongs.

A. Reading Rules
I. Pronunciation of vowels
1. Pronunciation of vowels in open stressed syllables

a e i o u y
[ju:]
name he I go cue flu my
plate she tie so hue flute by
table me lie hoe cube rule sky
late we hide toe cute blue rye
cake be fine bone fume fluke spy
take eve smile broke huge rude sty
safe fever like cope mute true fly
skate evil crime close tube rue dye
mate meter bride joke tune rune shy
case theme shine home use try
cave these ripe hope music type
face cede life rose student byte
date gene wipe role duty cycle
hate zebra wide those pupil style
gate even white move [u:]
2. Pronunciation of vowels in closed stressed syllable

a e i o u y

cat bed big box bug bush myth

map red pig block but cushion cyst
sad pen chin cop bus bull hymn
had ten fix clock cup pudding lynch
cab let mix god cut push lynx
bag bell his frog dull truth nymph
dad cell risk nod drunk pull
black cent ship sob duck pullover
bank den pin strong nut put
rank end pink shock hut
match get sip shop just
van gel sin stock 2 lunch
wax help wish rock much
lack melt wink spot stuff
frank well zip boss mug
3. Pronunciation of vowels in the 3rd type of syllable (v + r + c)

a e i o u y

bar her fir or fur Byrd

car berth sir nor turn Myrna
far germ bird cord hurt
star herb first corn purse
farm herd third core burst
arm merge girl for curve
hard nerve shirt force church
arch perm skirt forth nurse
art term birth horn purple
chart verse thirst horse surf
large verb circle norm Turk
charm err circus north urge
start per firm pork curse
smart clerk dirt port burn
park sperm birch sport curl

4. Pronunciation of vowels in the 4th type of syllable (v + r + v)

3
 a e i o u y

[] [j]
care here tire ore cure tyre
bare mere wire bore lure byre
hare sincere fire lore pure pyre
stare cohere dire fore jury lyre
share adhere mire more mural
dare spire pore during
mare shire shore endure
fare tired snore
rare attire sore
spare aspire spore
flare hire score
blare store
parents *trial story
Clare *prior storey
Mary were []
there*
where*

5. Pronunciation of vowels in unstressed position

4
 a a a e e e
initi follow

final position in -age, initial final position

al position -ate position ed by t

ago calendar Nouns [i] embark problem carpet

about capital cottage embrace system budget
above cardinal courage emigrate adviser comet
abroad cellar carriage emerge anger pallet
amaze compass damage enjoy answer bucket
affirm crystal climate enlarge baker brevet
alike currant chocolate enforce boxer casket
apart custard candidate enroll bother cutlet
amount dental certificate escape buyer hamlet
attest climax cabbage erupt holder market
attentive comma Verbs [ei] erase hunger tablet
aware coral delegate equip leader omelet
attract distance celebrate escort cover packet
avoid dominant establish farmer planet
awake dormant evaluate faster rocket
away agenda enough better target
and amoral entire smaller ticket
at accountant emotion gather toilet
equal briber secret

5
 i o o u u y y

final initial final initial final initial final

position position position position position position position

Civil collect cannon support medium yes candy

Victim collide carrot suggest circus yet happy
Nostril compact common suppose column yell lady
Aspirin compel bacon suspect difficult yoga cherry
Pumpkin confide custom sustain campus yoke dandy
Tacit confirm monitor suspicion cactus yellow berry
Vomit confess doctor submit minus yesterday city
Tennis conform seldom subside chorus year dumpy
Iris contain develop subscribe versus yard custody
matrix contrast symptom surprise virus you ceremony
suffix contest freedom success maximum young ready

II. Pronunciation of vowel combinations

6
 ai ay ea ee ea Ea+r

claim May meat meet dead appear

drain day sea bee head beard
rain pay bead deed bread clear
faith bay read need dread dear
gain ray speak sheep spread ear
grain way clean deep ready hear
main say dean green steady gear [g]
pail tray please greet meant fear
raid play veal street threat near
saint clay Easter beetle breast tear
Spain stay season cheek sweat theatre
stain spray weak week feather real
tail sway scream tree leather sear
train layer lease needle weather shear
wait mayor cease screen death spear

7
 au aw A+l+c A+s,th ea Ee+r
Br.

Am.

clause awe all class early cheer

faucet awesome ball grass earn beer
fault awful call pass earth deer
fraud awkward mall passport yearn jeer
launch claw small ask pearl peer
pause crawl tall basket hearse sneer
taught jaw chalk mask search sheer
vault law bald task earnest cheers
august lawn false clasp steer
aura saw salt grasp engineer
Australia paw talk cast pioneer
Austria raw walk fast
author scrawl balm [a:] fasten heart [a:]
autumn shawl calf [a:] last hearth [a:]
audience straw calm [a:] vast swear [ ]
audacity yawn half [a:] path wear [ ]
auto draw rather [a:] bath year [ ]
authentic drawl pear [ ]
aunt [a:] gnaw [n]
laugh [a:]

8
 Ei,ey Ei,ey ew ew ia ie
[ju:]
ceiling neigh chew crew diacritic achieve
receive reign dew brew diagnosis brief
receipt rein ewe flew diagram belief
key sleigh few grew dial chief
weigh mew blew dialect field
foreign [i] weight new screw diameter grieve
honey [i] vein knew shrewd diamond niece
money [i] neighbour nephew threw diaper piece
hokey [i] prey review crew diary priest
obey stew brew giant shield
hey steward flew triangle thief
they view grew trial sieve
feud blew via friend [e]

ie io I+gh I+nd,ld,mb ui gu
[ju:]
alien biology night blind suit guest
barrier pioneer flight find suitable guide
fierce prior light bind juice guidance
pier priority might mind suicide guitar
pierce riot high mild bruise [u:] guard
criterion sigh child cruise [u:]
fiesta biography tight climb fluid [u:i]
siesta studio sign behind ruin [u:i]
*build [bild]
9
 oa oo ook Oi, oy ou ou

boat bloom look boil count soup

boast broom book coin about group
oak choose cook join mouse rouge
goat room hook noise out routine
loan pool brook oil council youth
loaf spoon took point round souvenir
road soon poison shout bouquet
soap too spoil sound boutique
oath school good soil spouse rouble
coach stool wood toilet south route
moan tooth hood moist stout coup
coat tool hoof void bounce through
float moon hoot voice blouse touch
moan cool doubt
roast roof boy found
oar [ ] bamboo toy mount [u]
soar [ ] shampoo soy house should
broad [ ] blood [ ] joy noun would
board [ ] flood [ ] destroy scout could
coarse[ ] floor [ ] Troy vouch
hoard [ ] door[ ] voyage trousers

10
 ou Ou+ ow Ow O+m,n,v,t O+ld,
gh h lt, lk,
mb, th

trouble ought cow bow some old

touch bought now row come bold
couple thought vow low comfort cold
courage fought brown own company hold
cousin sought how show stomach fold
country brought owl flow Son money sold
nourish wrought power snow London scold
flourish through shower glow Ton done told
Douglas taught towel growth front onion bolt
naughty town sorrow tongue folk
tough caught browse blow Love dove bomb
rough naught coward hollow cover oven both
enough slaughter howl shove
vowel mother tomb [u:]
bough [au] flower brother
dough [ou] powder other
cough [kof] does
bow dozen
row colour
move [U:]

11
 III. Pronunciation of consonants and consonant combinations
b mb silent c C+e,I,y c sc ck
ch ch ch d -dge d
Silent

bad
chalk bomb
ache cab
charade cell dad ocean bridge science handkerchief
back
bat
chain comb
chaos cap
chef cent day viciousbadge scientist sandwich
lack
bee
chair climb
character catchute celebrity
die specialbudget scene Wednesday
pack
base
chamber crumb
charisma cow
champagneceasedim associate
cartridgescenario sack
back
champion dumb
chemistry call
chardonnaycentre dye crucialedge scent neck
bay
charge lamb
chorus camp
chauvinist dace damp facial fledge scissors track
bear
charm numb
chimera card
chick lace dark glacialfridge muscle check
ball
cheese plumb
cholera cave
chivalry face date musician
grudge fascinate attack
balm
chicken thumb
Christmas coat
avalanche racedeal racial hedge fascination mock
ban
choose tomb [u:]
anchor code
clich spacedeny specialize
hedgehog shock
box
choice womb [u:]
architect cold
crche circledrink specialty
judge stock
bun
clench epoch cute
Chopin circusdomain conscious
knowledge quick
bus
bench debt [det]
school carbon
Chicago city drain conscience
pledge racket
best
lunch monarchy carter civicsender pidgin frock
beat
Dutch hierarchy coffin ciderladder sledge prick
book
each mechanic credit citizen
drill wedge sick
bite creepy cycle 12 wicked
lab coast cynic ticket
mob critic Cyprus thick
 f g gu G+e,I,y G+e,i gn

fan gain guarantee gel get gant

far goal guard gem gear gnaw
fax glad guerilla gender gift gnome
fee god guess germ gig gnarl
few gray guest gene girl gnash
fox grow guide general give gnu
four grape guild generate begin align
fail grave guilt generous giddy foreign
fame greet guinea genius assign
fake group guitar gentle sign
fable gossip dialogue giant benign
fever ground gin campaign
frock groom giraffe design
front gloat gym resign
folder glory gypsy reign
comfort graze huge sovereign
fifty grip large champagne
outfit gothic Homage malign
of [v] grade German

13
 gh Gh+t h h j k
silent silent
enough thought has hour jam kick
tough ought had honorarium jet kind
rough sought hat honour joy kiss
laugh bought hen honest jog kid
cough caught hack honesty jack keep
hiccough [p] daughter hale heir job keen
light high ghetto japan kin
might huge ghost jargon key
bright hotel yoghurt judge kite
height house when juice kernel
weight horrible why jury kettle
eight hatred where jacket kidnap
plight heels whether just ketch-up
high hobby rhyme journal kebab
sigh habit rhythm jungle kangaroo
thigh harvest rhetoric jealous karaoke
rhapsody jumper karate

14
 l l m n nk ng
k
silent
lab would mad net wink ring
lamb could map nun pink thing
low should man name donkey king
lake calf mix herd ankle cling
lane half mug never ink bring
late behalf maid niece honk sting
liquid balm mile nose monk darling
leap calm mind narrow sink ceiling
look palm more napkin tank morning
light salmon move ban blank evening
ball talk melon bun clink meaning
wrestle balk medal nourish drink blessing
cattle stalk monkey infant link checking
shovel walk moment listen think bang
collect ball manager run thank finger [g]
plan tall blossom cotton trunk England [g]
puzzle call game mission frank stronger [g]
quarrel same noun junk longer [g]
middle smoke nurse bank singer [g]

15
 p ph ps qu qu r
silent [kw]
pace phone psalter question liquor rag
pack phase psalm quiet queue ram
pact phenomenon pseudo quality boutique red
pail philosophy pseudonym quantity bouquet root
pine phobia psychic qualify arabesque rope
spy diphthong psychology quarter etiquette brace
space pharmacy psychiatry quick grotesque branch
spade photo psychopath quiz oblique breach
span phrase psychosis quack opaque bribery
spark physics psychologist quarrel technique broad
sparrow sphere psychiatrist quite unique brief
stop sphinx quit broker
copper phoenix quince dry
pepper phonetics pneumatic quota fry
open pharaoh pneumonia frequency grade
shrapen diphtheria inquire spray
keep liquid practice
deep nephew [v] squeeze trust

16
 s s s s sh t

sea rose usual sugar sheep tab

set music vision sure she tap
spy disease visual pressure shock tea
sty praise casual pension shoes ten
safe cousin sensual Asia shut tub
seam risen exposure sugar shine tame
song lose disclosure sure shook tape
surf surprise measure fresh tablet
serve president leisure fish tension
saint boys treasure brush timid
stem ladies censure cash tomato
step petals fissure crash star
scene friends pleasure fashion stream
stir goes treasury polish rabbit
soaps does selfish front
cups loves wish start
parts complains diminish strange
speaks answers accomplish twice
looks proves flourish tusk

17
 tch th th t v w
silent
bitch faith the castle van wax
catch thin this Christmas vat wage
clutch bath that fasten vow wine
fetch cloth these listen vast waste
hatch three those whistle view wallet
itch thing they thistle vine walnut
kitchen through there glisten venture week
match thousand than christen violin wing
scratch think then visit well
scotch thicken brother voice will
stretch apathy mother velvet wife
patch booth therefore over wipe
sketch path gather slave wool
watch cathedral with fever wood
witch sixth together votive wolf
itch mouth weather vacant witness
scotch teeth further vacuum wide
clutch Thursday thus volcano worse

18
 wh Wh+o war wa wor wr
silent

whale who war want word write

what whole warble watch work wrong
wheat wholesome ward what world wrote
wheel wholemeal warm watchful wretch
when whom warn wash wrack
where whose warp was wrath
whether whoop warrant wad wrest
which whopper warren water wrestle
while wart wasp wriggle
whim wattle write
whip wander written
whisky wanderer wrote
whistle waterproof wrung
white wry
why written
whit writhe
whine wreak
which wrath

19
 x z
[ks] [z] [ts]
[gz]
expect Alexander zebra pizza
exercise exam zero Mozart
complex exact zeal Nazi
text coexist zip waltz
exceed example zinc
excel execution zodiac
excellent exemplify zombie [z]
except exhaust zone Xerox [z]
excuse exist zoo xylophone [z]
exchange exodus zoom xenophobia [z]
exit exonerate zenith
expel exotic zeugma
expensive exhibit dazzle
experience exemplary drizzle
explain examine puzzle
flexible buzz
index breeze
x-ray dozen
IV.
Pronunciation of prefixes

anti- auto- bi- bio- co- counter-

[ nti], [ :t ] [bi], [bio], [kou] [kaunt ]
[ ntai] [bai] [baio]
antipathy autonomy bilingual biology cooperate counteract
antiracist autobiography bicycle biography cooption counterpart
antiseptic automobile binary biopsy coordinate counterpoint
antiwar autonomic bicameral biochemical counterplot
antiviral autograph bipartisan biophysics counter-raid
antioxidant autoimmune biannual biometrics counterterrorist
antitoxic autoworker bimonthly biodiversity counteroffer
antiviolence automobilist bilinear biosphere counter-petition
antivitamin automatics binocular bioscopy counter-
demands
antitumor auto-transfusion bi-party biosafety countercoup
antibacterial autobus bipedal biotype counter-shot
anti-popular autography bipod biosynthetic countercheck
antibody autoimmunity bipolarize biosocial countertrade
autocorrelation bisection biorhythm counter-
reformer

20
 de- dis- ex- extra- fore- hyper-
[di] [dis] [eks] [estr ] [f :] [haip ]
deactivate disability ex-wife extramural forearm hyperactive
decaffeinate disaccord ex- extra-time forebear hyper-reactive
president
de-feather disadvantage extra-money forehead hyper-reactor
defrost disclose extra-limit forecast hypersonic
decompress discard foreplay hypertension
deodorize displace foresee hyperlink
degenerate dismiss foretell hypermarket
devoid disorder foreshow hyper-glucose
depress disagree
depart disarm
declassify disobey
degrease distort
de-toxication discard
dehumidify disgust

21
 in- im- ir- il- inter- intra-
[in] [im] [ir] [il] [int ] [intr ]
Inability Immature Irreal Illiterate Interview Intravenous
Inaccuracy Impolite Irrelevant Illiteracy International Intracellular
Inadmissible Impossible Irradiate Illegal Interact Intrapersonal
Incessant Improper Irrational Illegalize Interface Intraocular
Incorrect Immediate Irregular Illegality Intervene Intra-vital
Incipient Immobile Irresistible Illegible Intermediate Intravascular
Inconsistent Impartial Irresolute Illiberal Intersection Intra-zonal
Indirect Impeccable Irreversible Illicitness Interconnect Intra-dermal
Indisposition Imperfect Irreparable Illogical Interlocutor Intracranial
Incomer Implicit Irritable Illogic Interpolation Intra-cerebral
Incredible Improvise Irreplaceable illuminable Interwar Intra-cardiac
Incriminate Impotent Irreality Interbank Intranet
Incoherence Improve irresponsible Intermingle Intramuscular
Inaudible Implant irrevocable Interwoven Intra-molecular
inclusiveness Impeach
Inbuilt Improvise
Inapplicable impress
inconvenient impurity

22
 mal- mid- mis- non- out- over-
[m l] [mid] [mis] [n n] [aut] [ouv ]

malignant midair mislead nonsense outside overcome

malpractice midbrain misuse nonlinear output overseas
malnutrition midday misconduct non-addict outlook overlook
maladminis- midcourse misplaced non- outfit overview
tration confidence
malfunction midfield misjudge non- outdoor overflow
conscious
malformation midstory misadvise non-capital outcome overdo
maltreatment midsummer mischarge non-caloric outlaw overwork
maladjust midline misguide non-coherent outsider overhear
maladaptive midterm mistreat non-basic outreach overheat
malefactor midweek misbehave non- outpatient oversleep
aggressive
mal-efficient midway mistake non-arable outgoing overfund

23
 post- pre- re- sub- super-
[poust] [pri] [ri] [s b] [s p ]
postscript predict return submit supermarket
postgraduate prevent remove subscribe superintendent
postposition precedent reform substitute superman
post-imperial prevail replace subdivision supermodel
post-attack preface restrain subculture superstar
post-war precursor reread subordinate superrich
post-crash premature refund subway super-nation
post-prison preview rebuilt subsection super-safe
post-college prejudge redirect subclass superhuman
post-reform presuppose reappear subsystem super-profit
post-test pretext recover submarine superglue
post-marital preventive recreate suburban supersonic
postmortem prefabricate regain subjugate superpower

trans- un- under- uni-

[tr ns] [ n] [ nd ] [ ni]

transform unless undertake unicameral

transaction unlike understand unicolor
transcription unemployed undergo unicellular
transfusion unpleasant undermine unicorn
transnational unhappy underground unicycle
transportation unrest undergraduate unification
transplant unlucky underestimate uniform
transversal unclear underpin uniplanar
transitional undo underworld unilingual
transfix unfold 24
understatement unidemnsional
transatlantic uneven underwater unionism
transoceanic unborn undertone unipod
transcontinental unreal underdeveloped unicorporated
 IV. Pronunciation of suffixes
-bility -ade -age -ate -ate -crasy
[biliti] [eid] [i ]: In nouns, In verbs [kr si]
adjectives [eit]
[it]
liability cascade language certificate associate democracy
stability barricade average chocolate advocate aristocracy
availability charade image senate educate autocracy
disability marinade advantage inspectorate concentrate bureaucracy
probability crusade shortage delicate investigate plutocracy
capability decade coverage intermediate illustrate technocracy
accountability parade marriage obstinate appreciate theocracy
inability persuade storage appropriate dominate
reliability invade cottage immaculate facilitate
vulnerability evade cabbage communicate
desirability lemonade garbage stimulate
durability serenade carriage rotate
suitability upgrade baggage accommodate
adaptability retrograde homage relocate
ratability orphanage disintegrate
improbability hermitage renovate
portability percentage recuperate
usability package promulgate

25
 -ee -er -eer - en -et -et
[i:] [ ] [i ] [n] [it] [ei]
committee anger electioneer awaken basket buffet
employee answer gazetteer blacken bonnet ballet
guarantee paper musketeer brighten booklet
refugee cater engineer broaden blanket
trustee danger pioneer fatten bracelet caf
decree border sloganeer dampen budget fianc
referee cooker puppeteer darken bullet
trainee bumper conventioneer deepen carpet
jubilee flower balladeer harden jacket
settee cucumber mountaineer lengthen market
pedigree flyer loosen magnet
chimpanzee goer moisten packet
nominee feather quicken socket
interviewee hunger redden tablet
addressee farmer sadden prophet
detainee gather shorten pocket
devotee litter strengthen target
escapee matter sweeten velvet

26
 -ess -ful -fy -holic -hood -ism
[is] [fl] [fai] [h lik] [hud] [ism]
actress armful clarify alcoholic adulthood activism
waitress artful classify chocoholic babyhood altruism
lines boastful justify melancholic childhood aphorism
stewardess beautiful qualify workaholic girlhood skepticism
tigress careful nullify motherhood racism
authoress deceitful crucify catholic parenthood barbarism
baroness graceful testify nationhood consumerism
conductress grateful defy wifehood fatalism
goddess harmful falsify womanhood empiricism
demoness hateful fortify widowhood dynamism
duchess hopeful certify brotherhood communism
empress painful identify sisterhood terrorism
heirless peaceful mystify puppyhood populism
manageress pocketful notify kinghood extremism
murderess shameful rectify evolutionism
poetess successful satisfy pessimism
prophetess wonderful ramify absolutism
protectress useful terrify dogmatism

27
 -ive -less -ly -ness -ment -osis
-phy
[iv] [lis]-ship [li] -sion [nis] -sion
[m nt -sure
[ousis]
[fi] [ ip] [ n] [ n]
executive ambitionless really alertness development diagnosis
philosophy
objective authorship likelyallusion aptnessexcursion
helpless impediment measure
tuberculosis
geography
effective censorship probably
artless conclusionbusinessdiscussion
commitmentpleasure
prognosis
biography
initiative championship
careless confusioncalmness
actually mission sediment treasurepsychosis
topography
relative citizenship
charmless evasion
particularly cleanlinessomission temperamentleisure
sclerosis
choreography
perspective datelesscourtship certainly
explosioncoolnessobsession parliament closure
symbiosis
iconography
expensive dictatorshipsimplyintrusion decisiveness
colorless impression
advancementdisclosure
thrombosis
typography
attractive fellowship finallycohesion lazinessaggression
dustless agreement exposure
bacteriosis
dystrophy
massive hardship lovelydivision promptness
faithless concession
engagement enclosure
metamorphosis
atrophy
selective kinship
merciless invasion friendliness
recently dimensioncommitmentseizure
leucosis
demography
descriptive leadership completely
heatless erosion madnessexpansion [ ]
improvementsure dermatosis
defective moonless absolutely loudness amusement necrosis
evasive
historiography penniless
scholarship firmlyexplosion fitness environment
expression hypnosis
ensure
speculative painless
radiography ownership slowlyillusion openness extensionapartment insuresymbiosis
intensive
tomography roadless
partnership shortly
inclusion vividness
omission settlement granulosis
assure
affective
ultrasonographyshapeless
relationshiptypically
occasion childishness treatment fissure
oppression haematosis
[ ]
inventive voiceless weekly awfulness movement
permissive fearless yearly forgetfulness monument censure [ ]

pressure [ ]

28
 -tion -ture -ty -ward -wise
[ n] [ ] [ti] [w d] [waiz]

accusation apiculture ability afterward otherwise

admiration architecture activity foreword likewise
administration adventure adversity forward clockwise
altercation capture aridity backward streetwise
alteration creature certainty inward profitwise
centralization lecture safety outward sunwise
circulation moisture possibility toward manwise
classification mixture property downward edgewise
decoration nature security westward airwise
duration picture complexity northward
dedication signature curiosity seaward
consultation literature diversity henceforward
denotation acupuncture hostility sideward
formulation agriculture utility spaceward
immunization furniture modesty earthward
legislation feature suitability homeward

29
 -ed as Past Simple -s, -es as plural or Present
Simple 3rd person
[t] [d] [id] [s] [z] [iz]
Voiceless Vowels, After t After p,t,k,f Vowels and After
cons. voiced cons. and d [ ] b,d,g,l,m,n, ch,ge,sh,ss,z,se,
ng,v, [ ] ze
walked played invited cups jobs beaches
worked agreed recited gaps limbs birches
liked answered celebrated naps friends peaches
cooked snowed rested tulips sounds bridges
thanked studied stated coats legs ages
asked hurried counted boats drugs cages
stopped married attracted frosts songs ashes
dropped cycled dated dots kings brushes
watched solved commuted courts earnings wishes
addressed shaved presented nights clothes pushes
dances changed hated backs bathes classes
divorced closed greeted books needs caresses
kissed fined tasted desks vacations glasses
locked moved ended necks vines hisses
booked stayed decided roofs combs tosses
placed named handed kerchiefs controls fluxes
typed used mended chiefs plays boxes
touched watered needed cliffs studies buzzes

30
Table of the reading rules of single vowels in stressed position

Type of syllable A E I O U Y

Open [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
case she line bone mute shy
Close [ ] [ ] [] [ ] [ ] []
cat men bit lot cut myth
Vowel+r+consonant [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
park term bird born burn Byrd
Vowel+r+vowel [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
care mere hire store pure tyre

Reading of vowel combinations

The table below represents the reading of vowel combination with another vowel or consonant(s).
[ ] ee see; ea sea; ie believe; ei - receive

31
[ ] a+ss grass; a+st last; a+sk - task; a+sp grasp; a+lm calm; ea+r - heart
[ ] au author; aw saw; oo+r door; a+ll, a+lk ball, talk; augh taught; ough
thought; wa+r warm
[ ] wa warm
[ ] oo too; ou group
[ ] oo+k book, look, cook, took
[ ] ew new
[ ] ea+r learn; wo+r work
[ ] o in front of m,n,v,th some, son, love, brother; ou country; oo blood,
flood
[ ] ai rain; ay day; ey they; eigh eight
[ ] i+gn sign; i+ld child; i+ld blind; igh night
[ ] oi iol; oy toy
[ ] ou out; ow down
[ ] oa coat; ow know; o+ll, o+ld toll, cold
[ ] ea+r near; ee+r engineer
[ ] ai+r chair; e+re there; ea+r - bear
[ ] oo+r poor

Reading of consonants
Combinations with consonants are not so many. They are reduced to the following:
ck [ ] luck th [ ] thin kn [ ]knife
sh [ ] she th [ ] this ng [ ] long
ch [ ] chess ph [ ] phone nk [ ] think
tch [ ] catch qu [ ] question

The letter C before the vowel e, i, y is pronounced [ ]: nice, city, icy; in other cases is pronounced [

]: come, cup. The letter G before the vowel e, i, y is pronounced [ ]: large, engine, gym in other
cases is pronounced [ ]: good, go, guard.
The combination wh +o is pronounced [ ]: who, whose; wh+other vowels is pronounced [ ]: what,
where, which; in the combination wr w is mute: write [ ].
B. Correspondence of sound pronunciation and spelling
No. Sound Spelling Examples
1 [ ] a in open syllable; late, grace, case,

32
 ea; great
ei weight
aigh straight
ai rain
ay play

2 [ ] a) a in close syllable cat, bad, sad, lack;

b) a+ss, sp, sk, American variant class, ask, pass
c) augh laugh
3 [ ] a) e in open syllable be, she, he
b) ee meet
c) ea bean
d) ie receive, field, thief;
4 [ ] e in close syllable bet, wet,
ea+d dead, head
c) said
5 [ ] a) i, I, time,
b) y in open syllable; my, cry, sky, cycle
c) i+gh high, sigh,
6 [ ] a) i in close syllable; bit, lid, click,
b) y in close syllable myth, exc. busy
c) all vowels in unstressed position lady, cabage
7 [ ] a) o in open syllable no, go, note, pole
b) oa boat, coat,
c) ough though, dough,
d) ow blow, show
8 [ ] a) o in close syllable; not, shot, stop
9 [ ] a) u in open syllable tune, music, student
b) ew, eu few, feud
10 [ ] a) u in close syllable but, cut, run,
b) o + m, n, v, th some, none, govern, brother
c) oo+d blood, flood
11 [ ] a) oo+k look, book, took
12 [ ] a) a+r+consonant car, park, lard, start
c) father, rather
13 [ ] a) o+r+consonant; o+r+vowel lord, fork, ore, more
b) aw, awful, lawn,
c) ugh taught
14 [ ] a) e+r+consonant her
b) i+r+consonant; sir
c) u+r+consonant; turn
d) y+r+consonat myrtle, Myrna
15 [ ] a) oo room, spoon,
b) u followed by l rule, bull
16 [ ] a) a+r+vowel stare, bare
b) a+ir air

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 there
17 [ ] a) e+r+vowel here,
b) ee+r beer, engineer
18 [ ] a) oo+r poor
19 [ ] a) ou loud, sprout
b) ow plow, bow, cow
[ ]* a) our our, sour, flour
b) ower flower
[ ]* a) i+r+vowel fire, lire,
b) y+r+vowel tyre
20 [ ] all vowels in unstressed position letter, doctor
21 [ ] always represented by b or bb boy, bed, ribbon
22 [ ] always represented by d dog, day, drip, paddle, lid,
past tense of regular verbs -ed spade
after vowel and voiced consonants planned, played
23 [ ] a) f fence, forty, fry
b) ph phone, phrase,
c) gh enough, laugh
24 [ ] a) always represented by g Game, girl, go, mug, glad, twig
except in front of e, i, y; bag
b) x in stressed position exam, exact
25 [ ] Only by the letter h Hair, hill, home, behind,
behave
Mute h in hour, honest
26 [ ] a) y in initial position yet, yellow, young
b) in combination with [ ] music, tune
27 [ ] a) c in all cases except followed bacon, cable, curl, cut;
by e,i,y
b) k kettle, kilt, desk,
c) ck luck, bucket, stick
d) in some words with qu toque, briquette, croquet
e) [ ] inqu quest, quiet, quick, liquid
box
f) x pronounced [ks]
28 [ ] Only by the letter l labor, little, pail, pill, pillow
29 [ ] Only by the letter m mend, milk, woman, simple,
come
30 [ ] Only by the letter n name, net, number, pint, run,
many
31 [ ] ng, nk song, English, pink
32 [ ] Only by the letter p pan, pet, pick pour, step, strap,
drop, hope
33 [ ] Only by the letter r rain, rent, ripe, syrup, cereal,
sorrow,

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 34 [ ] a) S in initial position, middle, and sell, desks, sand, sick, basket,
the end after a voiceless consonant; desks;
b) c after e, i, y city, cement, circle, cyst, mice

35 [ ] a) sh shame shelf, shore, fish, finish

b) c in several words ocean
c) suffix tion lotion, motion
d) s in several words sure, sugar
36 [ ] a) always represented by t tape, ten, time, tune, water,
b) past tense of regular verbs ed cent, poster, sat, wet
after voiceless consonants
37 [ ] a) ch chat, check, chop, charm,
church, teacher, such, which
b) tch watch, pitcher, fetch,
38 [ ] th mainly in notional words, esp. thin, thick, bath, smooth,
nouns, adjectives thump, thank , thing, think
39 [ ] th mainly in structural words, the, this, there, then, bathe,
adverbs and verbs either, weather, other,
40 [ ] a) represented by v vase, very, vital, vote, volcano,
b) in of leave, dive, favor
41 [ ] always represented by w want, water, west, winter,
wool, beware
42 [ ] a) z zest, zero, zoo, maze, dose,
b) s between two vowels buzz;
c) s after vowels and voiced
consonants to form the plural boys, pens
d) x in several words xylophone, xylene, xenon
43 [ ] a) represented by -sure in final pleasure, leisure, measure
position
b) -sion division, revision
44 [ ] a) j in all positions jam, job, joke, jump, inject,
b) g in front of e, i, y misjudge
c) dg giant, gem, germ, gesture,
suggest
bridge, ridge widget
*[ ] and [ ] are not considered different phones from the diphthongs [au] and [ai]; we include them here as

having a distinct spelling.

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