English phonemic symbols

1. Vowel sounds.
1. A. Monothongs (single vowel
sounds).
1.B. Ejemplos de escritura de las
vocales inglesas.
1.C. Dipthongs (double vowel
sounds).
1.D. Tripthongs (triple vowel
sounds).
1.E. Silent Vowels

2. Semi-vowels.

3. Consonant sounds.

4. Frases para practicar los sonidos

5. Palabras diferenciadas en un solo

fonema

6. Homophones.

7. Tabla resumen.
2
 English phonemic symbols
Voiced

Glottal
Voiceless
h
Voiced g ŋ ɭ
Velar
Voiceless
k
Voiced j
Palatal
Voiceless

Palato-
Voiced ʒ ʤ
alveola
r Voiceless ʃ ʧ

Post-
Voiced
r
alveola
Voiceless
r

Voiced
d z n ɭ
Alveol
ar Voiceless
t s
Voiced ð
Dental
Voiceless θ

Labio-
Voiced
v
dental
Voiceless
f
Bi- Voiced
b m w
labial
Voiceless p
Semi-
Plosive Fricativ Affricat Nasal Lateral vowel
e e

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1. Vowel sounds.
1. A. Monothongs (single vowel sounds):

1 /ί:/ Se parece a nuestra “i” pero es más larga y muy cerrada.

Normalmente aparece en palabras que se escriben con “ea”, “ee” o “ie”.
Ejemplos: /bί:n /, /hί:l /, / tί:n /, /ί:t /, /nί:d /, /θrί: /, /tί:ʧ /...

2 /I /
Se pronuncia entre la “e” y la “i” españolas. Es un sonido breve.
Aparece siempre en los plurales y en la 3ª persona singular de los verbos
terminados en “s” en presente. Normalmente se escribe con “e” o “i”.
Ejemplos: /bIn /, /hIl /, /tIn /, /It /, /’prItI /, /’kIzIz /, /’bIzI /...

3 /е/Se pronuncia muy parecido a la “e” española. Es un sonido breve.

Nunca aparece al final de una palabra (siempre lleva una consonante detrás).
Normalmente corresponde, en la escritura, a “e”, “a” o “ea”.
Ejemplos: /send /, /’enI /, /ten /, /ben /, /’redI /, /get /, /frend /...

4 /æ/. Es una vocal nasal, entre la “a” y la “e” españolas.

Suena como la “e” catalana en “el tricicle” (como una “a” pronunciada
apretando la nariz con los dedos). Es un sonido corto, y muy frecuente en el
inglés americano. Normalmente se escribe “a”.
Ejemplos: /ænd /, /bæd /, /‘hæpI /, /flæt /, /fæt /, /hænd /, /kæt /...

5 /ʌ / Este sonido es prácticamente igual que la “a” española.

Quizá un poco más parecido a una “o” española, generalmente se escribe
como una “o” o una “u”. En el habla del norte de Gran Bretaña se le da una
pronunciación muy curiosa: es muy cerrado y suena como una “u”, pero sólo
en palabras que realmente se escriben con “u” (por ejemplo, /’husbænd/ en
vez de /’hʌsbænd/). Ejemplos: /dʌs /, /kʌm /, /bʌs /, / kʌp /, /fʌn /, /ʌp /, /
lʌv /, /sʌn /...
©EOICartagena+Oliver1999

4
6 /ɑ:/Es una “a” española muy, muy larga, casi como 3 “a” juntas.
Generalmente se escribe “a” + “r ” o “a” + “l”.
Ejemplos: /ɑ: /, /ɑ:sk /, /hɑ:f /, / klɑ:s /, / ɑ:nt /, /pɑ:k /...

7 /ɔ:/ Es un fonema largo, como 3 “o” españolas.

Al escribir, puede corresponder a casi cualquier cosa (“o”, doble “o”, “o” +
“r ”, “ou”, “aw”... ).
Ejemplos: /dɔ:/,/mɔ:/, /ɔ:l /, /spɔ:t /,/ wɔ:m /,/jɔ: /, / wɔ:tə /...

8 /ɒ/ Es como la “o” española pero más abierta (más parecida a una “a”).
Es un sonido corto, breve. Al igual que el sonido /e /, no aparece nunca al
final de una palabra y necesita una consonante detrás. Generalmente se
escribe “o” o “a”.
Ejemplos: /wɒz /,/wɒʃ /,/stɒp /, / wɒt /,/nɒt /,/ wɒnt /, / dɒg /...

9 /u:/ Parecido a nuestra “u” pero más largo y más cerrado (tirando a
“o”). Se pronuncia poniendo los labios como para decir “o”, pero diciendo
“u”. Tampoco puede aparecer al final de una palabra, y se suele escribir
“u”, “o”, doble “o”, “ou”...
Ejemplos: /ju: /,/ʃu: /, /tu: /, / tru: /,/blu: /,/ du: /, /gru:p /...

10 /ʊ/ Este sonido es parecido al anterior, pero más corto.

Es como la “u” española, pero más abierto (al pronunciarlo hay que abrir la
boca un poco más que al pronunciar una “u” española). Tampoco lo
encontraremos al final de ninguna palabra. Normalmente se escribe “o”,
“ou”, “u” o algo parecido, así que es difícil saber cuándo hay que
pronunciar /u: / y cuándo /ʊ /.
Ejemplos: /bʊk /, /’wʊmən /, /kʊk /, / lʊk /, /’ʃʊgə /...

11 /ǝ/La llamada “schwa” es el sonido más típico del inglés.

Es la “e” de las palabras francesas acabadas en “eu” (p.ej., Gerard
Depardieu). Teóricamente pronunciaremos así una vocal abierta o
semiabierta (a, e, o) que no lleve acento. Lo interesante de este sonido es que
al hablar deprisa cualquier vocal sencilla, incluso cualquier diptongo o
triptongo tiene tendencia a sonar así.
Ejemplos: /ǝ /, /ǝf /,/tǝ /,/ðǝ /, /’lǝtǝ /,/’dInǝ /, /’brɒðǝ /...

12 /ɜ:/ La schwa larga es típica de palabras que se escriben con “i” + “r” ,
“u” + “r” o, a veces, “e” + “r ”.
Ejemplos: /’θɜ:sdeI /,/’nɜ:vəz /,/nɜ:z /,/ʧɜ:ʧ /,/wɜ:d /,/wɜ:k/...

©EOICartagena+Oliver1999

1.B.Ejemplos de escritura de las vocales

inglesas:
/ί:/ cheesse, free, key, mean, meet, peace, please, team,
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esteem, steel, steal

/I / big, give, him, ill, milk, ship, thick, thin, thing, think,
this, kiss, lip, flip, it

/е/ bed, bread, end, friend, head, leg, neck, pen, hen,
spend, bend, lend, send

/æ/ fat, ham, hand, hat, land, map, that, exam, crack,
thank, bank, blank

/ʌ/ but, club, cup, cut, fun, husband, gun, luck, pub, sun

/ɑ: / arm, bar, car, far, glass, grass, half, part, star, start

/ ɔ: /course, fall, for, hall, horse, law, sport, store,

talk,four, door

/ɒ/ cost, dog, fog, hot, lost, pot, rot, wash, wrong, stop,
spot

/u:/ blue, choose, cool, group, lose, moon, shoe, truth, tool

/ʊ/ book, cook, foot, full, wool, look, pull, put, room, soot

/ǝ/ finger, letter, member, mentor, tutor, doctor, theatre,

weather, woman

/ɜ:/ bird, earn, first, girl, hurt, learn, nurse, word, work,
world, urban, urgent

1.C. Dipthongs (double vowel sounds):

*Como regla general, la primera vocal de los diptongos ingleses es bastante más larga que la segunda.

1 /ɑI / Imagina decir la palabra española “hay”, pero alargando mucho la

“a”.
Estás diciendo “I” (yo), o su homófono: “eye” (ojo).
Ejemplos: /ɑI /, /hɑI /, /wɑIn /, /nɑIz /, /bɑI /, /qwɑIt /...

2 /eI / Sin comentarios, excepto recordar que la “e” es bastante larga.

Ejemplos: /re In /, / eIt /, / deI /, / peI /, / leIk /, / treIn /...

3 /ɔI / Muy parecido a la pronunciación de la palabra española “hoy”.

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Aunque hay que recordar que la /ɔ /es muy parecida a la “a” española, y muy
larga.
Ejemplos: /bɔI /, /tɔI /, /nɔIz /, /vɔIz /, /en’ʤɔI /, /ɔIl /...

4 /eǝ/ Sin comentarios.

Ejemplos: /eǝ /, /’eǝrɒpleIn /, /keǝ /, /weǝ /, /heǝ /, /ðeǝ /...

5 /Iǝ/ Hay que recordar que la “i” es abierta, casi una “e” española.
Ejemplos: /Iǝ /, /hIǝ /, /ɑI’dIǝ /, /’θIǝtrə /, /bIǝ /, /wIǝ /...

6 /ʊǝ/ Este es un diptongo muy poco frecuente.

Muchos lo simplifican hasta hacer que suene simplemente /ɔ: / o /u: /
Ejemplos: /pʊǝ /, /tʊǝ /, / ’tʊǝrIst /, /ʃjʊǝ /, /ʤʊǝl /...

7 /ɑʊ / Sin comentarios.

Ejemplos: /nɑʊ /, /mɑʊθ /, /ə’bɑʊ t /, /hɑʊz /, /dɑʊn /, /brɑʊn /...

8 /ǝʊ/ Ojo con este diptongo: los españoles solemos pronunciarlo mal
(“ou”).
Ejemplos: /sǝʊ /, /nǝʊ /, /kǝʊld /, /gǝʊ /, /dǝʊnt /, /rǝʊd /...

1.D. Tripthongs (triple vowel sounds):

*Como regla general, la segunda vocal de los triptongos ingleses es bastante más corta que las otras 2
que la rodean. Según algunos autores, los triptongos son simplemente diptongos a los que se añade
una “schwa”

1 /ɑIǝ/ Sin comentarios.

Ejemplos: /fɑIǝ /, /’vɑIǝlIn /, /lɑIǝ /, /’ɑIǝlænd /, /’ɑIǝrəz /, /qwɑIǝt /...

2 /eIǝ/ Se trata de un extraño triptongo derivado.

Frecuentemente es resultado de añadir una terminación “er” a un diptongo
típico.
Ejemplos: /ðeIǝ /, /pleIǝ /...

3 /ɔIǝ/ Atención a este triptongo.

Es poco frecuente y no siempre reconocido por los expertos.
Ejemplos: /rɔIǝl /, /dIs‘trɔIǝ /, /Im‘plɔIǝ /...

4 /ɑʊǝ/ Bastante frecuente y difícil de pronunciar.

Los españoles tenemos tendencia a introducir una “g” delante del sonido “u”.
Así, para decir “tower”, pronunciamos /’tɑguǝ / en vez de /’tɑuǝ /.
Ejemplos: /ɑʊǝ /, /flɑʊǝ /, /ʃɑʊǝ /, /pɑʊǝ /...

5 /ǝʊǝ/ Algunos estudiosos no lo reconocen.

Sin embargo, este triptongo derivado existe en la práctica, en palabras con
la típica terminación “er”:
Ejemplos: /lǝʊǝ /, /slǝʊǝ /...
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8
1.E.
© THINK in English No 14
Silent vowels:
*Identifying silent vowels can enormously improve how your English sounds, and the good news is that
most silent words follow quite strict rules. The vast majority of silent vowels are found in the
penultimate syllable of polysyllabic words.

A
The “a” can be silent in all words of 3 or more syllables ending “-ary”
(although it can also be pronounced /ǝ/) . If the “a” is silent, the “t”
in the “-tary” words is often pronounced /ʧ/ and the “d” in the “-
dary” words is often pronounced /ʤ /:
arbitrary, boundary, contemporary, dictionary, discretionary, evolutionary,
expeditionary, extraordinary, hereditary, imaginary, insurrectionary, legendary,
legionary, library, mercenary, missionary, necessary, ordinary, precautionary,
preliminary, reactionary, revolutionary, sanctuary, secondary, secretary, solitary,
stationary, unitary, visionary, etc.
The “a” can always be silent in adverbs ending “-ically”:
analytically, athletically, automatically, basically, characteristically, comically,
critically, cynically, democratically, dramatically, drastically, enthusiastically,
fantastically, frantically, heroically, historically, horrifically, hygienically,
hysterically, pathetically, rhythmically, scientifically, specifically, statistically,
stoically, symmetrically, terrifically, tragically, etc.
The “a” is also silent in the following words:
Barbara, separate, separatism, separatist, tetanus.
The “a” can also be silent (or pronounced /ǝ/)in the following words:
Niagara, scandalous.
The “au” can be silent in:
restaurant

E
The “e” is silent before the suffix “-ful”:
careful, disgraceful, distasteful, graceful, hopeful, peaceful, purposeful,
resourceful, shameful, spiteful, tuneful, useful, wasteful, etc.
The “e” is always silent before the suffix “-less”:
blameless, careless, graceless, hopeless, priceless, purposeless, remorseless,
shameless, shapeless, sleevless, smokeless, spineless, stateless, tuneless, useless,
etc.
The “e” is always silent before the suffix “-ly”:
accurately, approximately, barely, carefully, completely, definitely, desperately,
entirely, extremely, homely, hopefully, intimately, likely, lively, lonely, loosely,
lovely, sparsely, etc.
The “e” is silent before “-ment”:
achievement, acknowledgement, advertisement, agreement, amazement,
amendment, amusement, announcement, apartment, appointment, argument,
arrangement, astonishment, attachment, commandment, comment, commitment,
compartment, complement, compliment, department, detachment, development,
disagreement, disappointment, discouragement, element, employment, etc.
The “e” is silent before the suffix “-some”:
lonesome, tiresome, wholesome.
As you know, the “e” is normally silent at the end of a word after a
consonant (name, tire...).
Except: Aborigine, acne, adobe, agape, anemone, Apache, apostrophe, Ariadne,
catastophe, Chile, coyote, epitome, facsimile, finale, hyperbole, karaoke, karate,
Penelope, posse, recipe, simile, Zimbabwe. In these words, the final “e”
is pronounced “I“.
In the words “be”, ”he”, “me” and “we”, the “e” is pronounced / i: /.
The “e” is silent in most names ending “-es”:
Charles, Giles, James, Maldives, Philippines, Seychelles, Wales...
9
But not in Greek names like
Achilles, Xerxes, etc.
and other names, like
Agnes, Dolores, Frances...
The “e” is silent in plurals ending “-es”,
names, friends...
except words ending “-dges”, “-ses”, “-sses”, “-ches”, “-shes” in
which the ending is pronounced /Iz/.
wedges, houses, kisses, watches, wishes.
Also with exceptions:
headaches
The “e” is always silent between a consonant and “-able”:
blameable, changeable, giveable, hireable, likeable, manageable, marriageable,
moveable, noticeable, peaceable, pronounceable, saleable, serviceable, sizeable,
traceable, unpronounceable, etc.
And also in words ending “-ceable”. The “e” is included to make the
“c” soft (/s/):
noticeable, peaceable, pronounceable, serviceable, traceable...
The “e” can be silent or pronounced “ǝ“ in the penultimate syllable
of long words, like:
blackberry, Catherine, cemetery, confectionery, conference, considerable,
cranberry, difference, different, federal, Frederick, general, inference, interest,
interesting, javelin, liberal, literate, mackerel, opera, preference, reference,
refrigerant, Roderick, several, severance, stationery...
The “e” is silent in the combination “-ge- + vowel”:
changeable, manageable, marriageable, pageant, etc.
The “e” is silent in the combination “-geo- in these words:
bludgeon, dungeon, outrageous, pigeon, sturgeon, surgeon.
But not in Geography, Geometry, Geotermics, etc.
The “e” is silent in a number of compound words in which the “e” is
silent in the first element:
bracelet, forecast, homestead, Iceland, mistletoe, ninety, pineapple, rosemary,
scapegoat, sideburn, sidecar, simpleton, somebody, someone, something,
somewhat, somewhere, Stonehenge, tableware, tapeworm, timetable,
whereabouts, whereas...
The “e” is silent or pronounced /ǝ / in:
camera, every, everybody, everyone, everything, everywhere, literary, literature,
preferable, preposterous, remunerative.
The “e” is also silent in:
Berkeley, evening, ocean, omelette, sovereign, temperament, vegetable,
Wednesday..
The “e” is silent or pronounced /ǝ/ in all regular past tenses and past
participles (“-ed”) except those ending “-ded” or “-ted”:

i
The “i” is silent in the combination “-ci-“ followed by a vowel. The
final syllable sounds /ʃ/:
artificial, beneficial, commercial, electrician, financial, judicial, magician, musician,
official, racial, social, suspicion, suspicious, technician, etc.
The “i” is silent in the combination “-si-“ followed by a vowel. The
final syllable sounds /ʃ/: admission, aggression, Asia, allusion,
animadversion, apprehension, commission, compassion, comprehension,
compression, compulsion, concession, conclusion, concussion, confession,
confusion, convulsion, decision, delusion, depression, dimension, discussion,
diversion, division, emission, excursion, expansion, explosion, expression,
expulsion, extension, fusion, illusion, immersion, implosion, impression,
intermission, inversion, mansion, mission, obsession, omission, oppression,

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 passion, pension, percussion, permission, Persia, persuasion, perversion,
possession, pretension, procession, profession, propulsion, recession, repression,
repulsion, revision, Russia, session, submersion, succession, suspension,
television, tension, transmission, version.
The “i” is silent in the combination “-ti-“ followed by a vowel. The
final syllable sounds /ʃ/:
abortion, absorption, acclamation, accommodation, action, activation, addiction,
addition, administration, adoption, affection, agitation, alienation, ambition,
animation, apparition, aspiration, assassination, assertion, assumption, attention,
attraction, carnation, caution, circulation, circumlocution, civilisation, cognition,
combination, combustion, communication, compensation, competition,
composition, condemnation, congratulation, conjugation, consternation,
construction, consumption, conviction, correction, corruption, creation,
declaration, declination, defection, deflection, deletion, demolition, demonstration,
depletion, derivation, description, destination, determination, detonation,
direction, discretion, disembarkation, domination, education, election,
emancipation, embarkation, emotion, erection, evolution, exaggeration,
examination, exasperation, exclamation, exertion, exhaustion, exhortation,
expectation, expedition, explanation, extortion, faction, fascination, formation,
foundation, function, generation, graduation, imagination, imperfection,
imposition, incarceration, incarnation, inclination, indiscretion, information,
inquisition, installation, institution, intention, interpretation, interruption,
introduction, intuition, invention, investigation, invitation, invocation, irritation,
lamentation, lotion, mention, misinterpretation, motion, multiplication, nation,
objection, observation, occupation, opposition, ordination, organisation,
perception, perfection, population, position, potion, precognition, prediction,
premonition, preparation, preposition, prescription, presumption, prevention,
probation, production, prohibition, promotion, pronunciation, proposition,
prosecution, provocation, publication, qualification, question, realisation,
reception, reclamation, recognition, reconciliation, redemption, reflection,
regeneration, registration, reincarnation, rejection, relation, relaxation, repetition,
reproduction, reputation, resolution, resurrection, resuscitation, revolution,
salvation, satisfaction, selection, sensation, specification, standardisation,
starvation, subtraction, suggestion, supposition, termination, tradition, translation,
tuition, ventilation, visualisation, vocation.
The “i” is also silent in the following words:
admirable, aspirin, business, fruit, (but not guilty), medicine (but not medicinal),
Parliament, participle, suit...

O
The “o” is silent in the following words:
jeopardise, jeopardy, Leonard, leopard.
In the combination “-tory”, the “o” can be silent. The syllable sounds
/tʃrI/:
conservatory, history, laboratory, predatory, refectory, story, territory, etc.
The “o” can be silent in the following words:
agoraphobia, agoraphobic, allegory, category, chocolate, comfortable,
contemporary, corporal, decorative.

U
The “u” is often silent in the combinations “gua-“ , “gue-“ , “gui-“
and ”cui-“. The function of the “u” is to keep the “g” hard (/k/):
guarantee, guard, guardian, guess, guest, Portuguese, disguise, guide, guitar, biscuit,
circuit...
And also in:
build, building, buoy (homophone of “boy”), buoyant, vocabulary.

11
2. Semi-vowels.
1 /j/ 50 % vocal, 50% consonante.
En el alfabeto fonético inglés, la letra jota representa un sonido como el que
hay al principio de la palabra española “hierro”. A menudo lleva detrás una
“u” larga (ju:). No aparece nunca al final de una palabra o de una sílaba. Al
escribir, suele corresponder a una "y”, una “i” o una “u” entre consonantes.
En el inglés de América, el grupo /ju:/ se pronuncia de un modo peculiar: /u:/.
Así, /nju:/ (new) se convierte en /nu:/; /’stju:dǝnt/ (student), en /’stu:dǝnt /,
etc.
Ejemplos: /jIǝ /, /jes /, /‘jǝlǝʊ /, /jet /, /nju: /, /’mjuzIk /, /’bju:tI /...

2 /w/ Es una “u” cerrada.

Este símbolo representa el sonido que tenemos, por ejemplo, al principio de la
palabra española “hueso”, que suena como si tuviera una “b” suave delante.
Nunca encontraremos este sonido al final de una palabra. Cuando
encontramos un fonema /w/, casi siempre habrá una “w” al escribir esa
palabra.
Ejemplos: /wɒnt /, /swIm /, /wɒt /, /wʌn /, /wIʧ /, /wǝl /...

3. Consonant sounds.
1 / l / En términos generales, es un fonema igual que la “ l ” española.
Junto con la “r”, suele alargar la vocal que le precede. Muy a menudo, no se
pronuncia cuando está al final de una sílaba, sobre todo si tiene detrás una
“k”. La doble “l” se pronuncia como si fuera una sola “l”, nunca como la “elle”
castellana.
Ejemplos: /lɑIf /, /ɔ:l /, / ‘teIbl /, /lʊk /, /mIlk/,/ tɔ:k/,/ʧɔ:k/...

2 /r/ Es mucho más suave que la “r ” española.

Este fonema no se pronuncia cuando aparece al final de una sílaba, y
tampoco cuando aparece al final de una palabra, a menos que la palabra
siguiente comience con un sonido vocálico. Al igual que el fonema anterior,
la /r / normalmente alarga la vocal que tiene delante.
Ejemplos: /rIʧ /, /rɒŋ /, /rɑIt /, /ru:m /, /rʌn /, /ɑ: /, /wɔ:/, /kɑ: /...

3 /m/ Este fonema es idéntico a la “ m “ española.

Ejemplos: /mæn /, /mɔ: /, /mIst /, /men /...

4 /n/ Igual que la “ n “ española.

Ejemplos: /’nɔ:tI /, /nί:z /, /’θInə /, /kæn /...

5 /ŋ/ Es una “ n “ nasal y más larga de lo normal.

Al escribir, corresponde a “n“ + “g“ o “n“ + “k“.
12
Ejemplos: /’sIŋgə /, / ‘lɒŋgə /, /θIŋ /, /sIŋ /...

6 /h/ Es una jota suave, típica del español de Andalucía.

No hay tanta fricción en la garganta como en la jota normal. Algunos
hablantes la suavizan bastante (por ejemplo, si aparece detrás de consonante
oclusiva) o no la usan en absoluto (por ejemplo, los londinenses). Para
terminar de complicarlo, a veces la “h“ es muda.
Ejemplos: /həl‘ǝʊ /, /‘hʌndrəd /, /ɑʊǝ /, /‘ɒnIst /, /hu: /...

7 /s/ Corresponde exactamente a una “ s “ española.

Se la llama “ese suave“ o “ese silbante” para distinguirla del siguiente
fonema. Teóricamente, encontraremos este sonido al principio de todas las
palabras que empiezan con “s“, y de muchas que empiezan con “c“. También
en teoría, la “s” final precedida de /p/, /t/, /k/, /θ/, /f/ (“ petaca, zafa”) ha de
pronunciarse así, aunque en la práctica encontraremos muchas excepciones.
Ejemplos: /si: /, /sɔ: /, /jes /, /pi:s /, / ‘sIrkl /...

8 /z/ Este símbolo representa al fonema “s“ fuerte.

También llamado “ese sonora” (al pronunciarla, las cuerdas vocales vibran),
este sonido no existe, en teoría, en el español de España, pero es muy
frecuente en el español de Hispanoamérica. Suelen pronunciarse así todas
las letras “z” que escribimos en palabras inglesas; también las letras “s”
finales precedidas de vocal o consonante sonora, aunque en la práctica
encontraremos también innumerables excepciones.
Ejemplos: /wɒz /, / ‘bIzI /, /zu: /, /‘lIzenz/, /dΛz /...

9 /ʃ/ Fonema sordo (sin vibración de las cuerdas vocales) de la familia de la

“s“. Generalmente lo encontramos con la grafía “sh“ o “sch” (en palabras de
origen alemán).
Ejemplos: /ʃi: /, /wɒʃ /, /fIʃ /, /ʃu: /, /ʃɔ: /...

10 /ʧ/Es un sonido sordo que equivale, poco más o menos, a nuestra “ch“.
Para pronunciarlo correctamente, conviene recordar que se trata de dos
sonidos consonánticos juntos: el fonema /t / (que en inglés es más fuerte que
en español) y el fonema /ʃ/ (“sh“), por lo que tendremos que pronunciar una
“ch“ española, pero más lentamente, como “a cámara lenta” , tratando de
separar esos 2 sonidos.
Ejemplos: /ʧɜ:ʧ /, /lΛnʧ /, /wIʧ /, /ʧi:z /, /ʧeə /...

11 /ʒ/ Otro fonema de la familia de la “s“.

Es muy parecido al anterior, pero sonoro (al pronunciarlo se produce una
vibración de las cuerdas vocales). Podríamos definirlo como una mezcla de
“d“ y “ll”. Es prácticamente el mismo sonido de la jota de la palabra francesa
“je“.
Ejemplos: /’juʒjuəl /, /’televIʒən /, /’treʒə /, /’pleʒə /, /’beIʒ /...

12 /ʤ/ Partamos del fonema anterior.

13
Si le ponemos delante una “d“ inglesa (más fuerte que la española)
tendremos un sonido parecido al de la “y“ en la palabra castellana “yo“. Otra
forma de practicarlo es decir la palabra francesa “déjà“ (=“ya“), pero sin
pronunciar las vocales.
Ejemplos: / ʤɒb /, / ʤΛmp /, / brIʤ /, / ‘ɒrInʤ /, / eIʤ /...

13 /θ/ Este sonido es el de la “z“ española. Se suele escribir “ th”.

Ejemplos: / bæθ /, / θIŋ /, / mɑʊθ /, / θri: /, / bəʊθ /...

14 /ð/ Este sonido es una mezcla de “d“ y “z“.

Es una consonante sonora. Lo más parecido que tenemos en español es una
“d“ intervocálica como, por ejemplo, en la palabra “ además”.
Ejemplos: / ðIz /, / ðeə /, / ðeI /, /wIð /, /‘bri:ðIŋ /...

15 /f/ El sonido /f/ es idéntico al de la efe española.

Generalmente se escribe con “f”, aunque a veces el grupo “gh” se
pronuncia /f/.
Ejemplos: / fɑIn /, /’kΛfI /, / fɑ: /, / fæt /, / fɔ: /...

16/v/ En español, “b“ y “v “ se deben pronunciar igual.

La distinción que existía en nuestra lengua entre estos dos sonidos
desapareció hace ya mucho tiempo. Sin embargo, la uve inglesa se parece
aún bastante a una “f“. Ten en cuenta que el inglés es una lengua germánica,
y que en alemán “v“ y “w“ suenan “f“ (Volkswagen, Wagner, etc.). Si
escuchas hablar a los escoceses, notarás que sus “uves” son en realidad
“efes”. Al escribir, suele corresponder a una “v”.
Ejemplos: / verI /, / hæv /, / twelv /, /əʊvə /, / Λv /...

17 /b/ Básicamente es la misma consonante española.

Pero en inglés la “b” se parece mucho a la “p”: ten esto muy en cuenta
cuando escuches a hablantes nativos. Al pronunciarla delante de una vocal se
ha de expulsar el aire rápidamente, haciendo una ligera “explosión”.
Ejemplos: / bi: /, / bɑI /, / bæg /, / rəʊb /, / bɔI /...

18 /p/ La “p” inglesa es un poco más fuerte que la española.

Al escribir, encontramos normalmente una “p”.
Ejemplos: /pɔ: / , /pʊʃ/, /peI /, /pæt /, /ʃɒp /...

©EOICartagena+Oliver1999
19 /t/ La “t” inglesa es también más fuerte que la española.
A veces, suena casi /ʧ/. Un truco para pronunciar este sonido correctamente
es pegar la lengua al paladar, en vez de a la parte trasera de los dientes,
como hacemos en español. Desde punto de vista de la ortografía no
presenta problemas especiales, puesto que al escribir una “t” casi siempre
pronunciaremos /t/.
Ejemplos: /wɒt / , / tel /, / teIk /, / pæt /, / lʊkt /...

14
20 /d/ Las mismas observaciones que hicimos sobre el fonema /t/.
Al escribir encontraremos normalmente una “d”.
Ejemplos: /’dInǝ /, / deI /, /nί:d /, /dIs‘trɔI /, /‘hʌndrəd /...

21 /g/ Es el sonido de la letra “g” en la palabra castellana “gato”.

Es mucho más fuerte que la “g” española, hasta el punto de sonar casi como
una “k”. Atención a las palabras que se escriben con “g”, puesto que a veces
la pronunciaremos /g / y a veces /ʤ /.
Ejemplos: / gæb / , /bIg /, / gɔd /, /gǝʊ /...

22 /k/ Básicamente este sonido coincide con el fonema /k/ español.

El problema es que puede corresponder a grafías muy distintas: “k”, “c”,
“ch”, “q”,...
Ejemplos: /‘sIrkl /, /’kΛfI /, / teIk /, / lʊkt /...

©EOICartagena+Oliver1999

SON LOCK COT

SUN

LUCK

CUT

15
 TIN DISC PIN

TEN

DESK

PEN

PUT COOK PUSH

POT

COCK

POSH

CHAR CHAIN CHEAP

JAR

JANE

JEEP

©EOICartagena+Oliver1999
4. Frases para practicar los sonidos

/ί: /These three sheep.

/ I / This ship is big.
/е /Ben sells eggs.
/æ /Sam ran back.
/ɑ: /Charles can’t dance.
/ɒ /John got lost.
/ ɔ: /Paul saw four forks.
/ ʊ /Could you cook?.
/u: /Choose two tools.
/ʌ /One young son.
/ɜ: /First learn Bert’s words.
/ǝ /Seven policemen.
/ eI /Jane came late.
16
/ǝʊ /Don’t go home, Joan.
/ɑI /I’m quite right.
/ɑʊ /How’s Brown’s cow?
/ ɔI /Roy’s joy is a toy.
/Iǝ /I fear he can hear.
/eǝ /Where is their chair?
/ʊǝ /I’m sure the Moor is poor.
/ p /I picked up a piece of paper.
/ b /He bought a big book.
/ t /Tom, eat that meat.
/ d /Dad didn’t add it.
/ k /Kate cut the cake.
/ g /Peggy got a good egg.
/ f /I found eleven figs.
/ v /This verb has five vowels.
/ θ /I think Arthur is the best author.
/ ð /They bathed there.
/s /Sue said she was sad.
/z /It isn’t easy to please Susan.
/ʃ /She showed the fish.
/ʒ /It’s a pleasure to watch television.
/ʧ /A cheap chop.
/ ʤ /John has just changed it.
/m /Tom must meet Tim.
/n /I don’t know his name.
/ŋ /She sang a long song.
/ l /He’ll tell a lie.
/r /Richard hat.
/w /Where was Wilson’s wife?
/j /Yes, you yawned yesterday.

5. palabras diferenciadas en un solo

fonema
/ ί: / v . /I/ /е / v. /æ /
eat it ate at
heat hit bed bad
seat sit head had
feet fit said sad
seen sin lend land
leave live men man
sheep ship bet bat
reach rich pen pan

/æ / v. / ɑ: / / ɒ / v. / ɔ: /
at art cot court
hat heart pot port
cat cart spot sport
had hard cockcork
ant aunt fox forks
back bark shot short
17
pat part
match march

/ʊ/ v. / u: / /ʌ / v. /æ /
full fool but bat
pull pool cup cap
look Luke cut cat
hut hat
run ran
rung rang
much match
sunk sank

/ʌ / /ɑ: / /ɜ: / /е /
luck lark bird bed
cut cat dirt debt
done darn heard head
bun barn turn ten
hut heart learnt lent
cuff calf burst best
buck bark worst west
weren’t went

/ v / v. / b / / θ / v. / ð /
very bury breath breathe
vote boat bath bathe
vigour bigger worth worthy
covered cupboard North Northern

/d/ v. /ʤ/ /s / v. /z /
dare there niece knees
day they ice eyes
den then place plays
price prize
loose lose
bus buzz
once ones

/ʃ / v. /s / /ʃ / v. /ʧ /
she see sheep cheap
ship sip shop chop
show so ship chip
shame same sheet cheat
shake sake wish which
sheet seat wash watch
shell sell
shave save
shore saw

/n / v. /ŋ / /j / v. / ʤ /
thin thing use Jews
sin sing you Jew

18
 ton tongue your jaw
run rung use juice
sun sung yet jet
yes Jess

/æ/ /ʌ/ /ɑ:/

ham hum harm
ban bun barn
back buck bark
lack luck lark
match much march
cat cut cart
hat hut heart

/ɒ/ /ɔ:/ /ǝʊ/

rod roared road
fox forks folks
cot court coat

/n/ /ŋ/ /ŋk/

thin thing think
sin sing sink
sun sung sunk
ran rang rank

/m/ /n/ /ŋ/

sum sun sung
rum run rung
beam been being
seem seen seeing

/s/ /ʃ/ /z/

sip ship zip
sue shoe zoo

/z/ /ʃ/ /ʧ/

was wash watch
zip ship chip

6. Homophones:
A cast, caste
air, ere, heir ceiling, sealing
aisle, isle, i’ll cellar, seller
19
allowed, aloud censer, censor
arc, ark cereal, serial
alms, arms cawed, cord, cored, chord
aren’t, aunt coarse, course
ascent, assent coal, cole
complement, compliment
B caw, core, corps
bad, bade council, counsel
bald, bawled councillor, counsellor
ball, bawl cruise, crews
bare, bear currant, current
barren, baron
base, bass CH
B, be, bee check, cheque
beach, beech choose, chews
bean, been
beat, beet D
beer, bier Dane, deign
berth, birth days, daze
bight, bite dew, due
boar, bore dear, deer
board, bored desert, dessert
bolder, boulder die, dye
beau, bow
bough, bow E
boy, buoy earn, urne
blew, blue eight, ate
brake, break ewe, you
bread, bred ewes, use
Britain, briton
berry, bury F
but, butt fane, fain, feign
buy, by, b ye fair, fare
farther, father
C faun, fawn
cannon, canon feat, feet
candid, candied fin, Finn
caught, court find, fined
fir, fur L
flair, flare laid, lade
flea, flee lain, lane
flour, flower laud, lord
for, fore, four law, lore
fort, fought lead, led
forth, fourth leant, lent
foul, fowl lessen, lesson
loan, lone
G
grease, Greece M
grate, great maid, made
20
groan, grown mail, male
gilt, guilt main, mane
guessed, guest mantel, mantle
mare, mayor
H marshal, martial
hair, hare meat, meet
heal, heel medal, meddle
heard, herd metal, mettle
hear, here mean, mien
high, hi miner, minor
higher, hire missed, mist
him, hymn moat, mote
hoarse, horse muscle, mussel
hole, whole
hour, our N
hew, hue, hugh nay, neigh
new, knew
I night, knight
I, ay, aye, eye none, nun
idle, idol no, know
I’ll, isle, aisle nor, gnaw
in, inn not, knot
indict, indite
its, it’s O
O, oh, owe
K ode, owed
key, quay one, won
knew, new
knight, night P
knot, not pail, pale
knows, nose pain, pane
pair, pear sight, site
pause, paws sighs, size
P, pea slay, sleigh
peace, piece sew, so, sow
peer, pier sawed, sword
per, purr sole, soul
plain, plane soled, soled
plum, plumb some, sum
paw, pore, pour son, sun
practice, practise stair, stare
pray, prey stationary, stationery
praise, prays, preys stake, steak
principal, principle steal, steel
storey, story
Q straight, strait
Q, queue succour, sucker
quire, choir serf, surf
suite, sweet
R
21
raise, rays, race T
rap, wrap tail, tale
rapped, rapt, wrapped tare, tear
read, reed taught, taut
rain, reign, rein T, tea, tee
ring, wring their, there
right, rite, Wright, write threw, through
road, rode, rowed throe, throw
root, route throne, thrown
rose, rows tide, tied
rung, wrung tier, tear
time, thyme
S tire, tier, tyre
sail, sale too, two
sea, see told, tolled
sealing, ceiling ton, tun
seam, seem toe, tow
seas, sees, seize, c’s
scene, seen V
sell, cell vale, veil
seller, cellar vain, vane, vein
scent, cent
serial, cereal
shear, sheer
W
wail, whale
waist, waste
wait, weight
wear, where, were
way, weigh
we, wee
weak, week
weave, we’ve
weather, whether
we’ll, wheel
what, watt
why, y
wheeled, wield
whine, wine
which, witch
won, one
wood, would
war, wore
whirled, world
warn, worn

Y
yoke, yolk
yaw, your
yew, you, ewe

22
 7. Tabla resumen.
7.A. Sonidos vocálicos.
phonem possible spellings examples
e
/ί:/ ea, ee, e, ei, eo, ie sea, free, key, ceiling,
people, piece

/I / i, y, e, u, ui, o ink, city, added, busy,

biscuit, women

/е/ u, e, a, ie, ea, ue bury, bed, any, friend,

head, guest

/æ/ a, ai cat, plait

/ʌ / ou, oo, oe, o, u young, blood, does,

love, cut

/ɑ:/ ar, er, au, ea, ua dark, clerk, laugh,

hart, guard

/ɔ:/ or, ou, au, a, aw, oo, oa horse,

thought,caught, all,
dawn, door, board

/ɒ / o, a, ou body, wash, cough

/u:/ u, ue, ui, oo, ou, o, ew June, blue, juice, roof,

group, two, Jew

/ʊ/ u, oo, ou push, book, would

23
 /ǝ/ many varieties colour, abroad, has,
of, dinner, alive

/ɜ:/ ear, ir, ur, or, er early, bird, nurse,

worm, nervous

©Dani1999
7.B. Diptongos.
phonem possible spellings examples
e
/ɑI / i, igh, ie, y, e I, high, die, cry, eye
/eI / ai, ay, a, ea, ei, ey rain, lay, ate, break,
eight, they
/ɔI/ oi, oy choice, boy
/eǝ/ ar, air care, chair
/Iǝ/ eer, ear, ere, ier, ia, ea beer, near, here, pier,
pianist, ear
/ʊǝ/ oor, our, ure, ur, ewe, ua poor, tour, sure, cure,
sewer, valuable
/ɑʊ/ ou, ow about, now
/ǝʊ/ oe, ow, oa, o toe, own, road, go

7.C. Triptongos.
phonem possible spellings examples
e
/ɑIǝ/ yre, ire, er, ie, ia tyre, fire, higher,
quiet, liar
/eIǝ/ ayer, eyer player, greyer
/ɔIǝ/ oyer, oya, oyou employer, annoyance,
joyous
/ɑʊǝ/ ower, owar, our tower, coward, hour
/ǝʊǝ/ ower slower

7.D. Semiconsonantes.
phonem possible spellings examples
e

24
 /j / eu, ew,u, y, eau, i queue, new, use,
young, beauty, onion
/w / w, u, o win, queen, one

©Dani1999

7.E. Consonantes.

phonem possible spellings examples

e
/l/ l look
/r/ r rice
/m/ m make
/n/ n now
/ŋ/ ng, nk song, think
/h/ h, wh here, where
/s/ s, c, sc sun, central, science
/z/ z, s zoo, nose
/ʃ/ sh, ss, ci, ti, si, sch shine, passion,
magician, nation,
pension, schwa
/ʧ/ ch, c, cz change, cello, Czek
/ʒ/ s measure
/ʤ/ dg, g, j, di judge, strange, just,
soldier
/θ/ th mouth
/ð/ th the
/f/ f, gh, ph off, rough, elephant
/v/ v, ph, f save, Stephen, of
/b/ b but
/p/ p pub
/t/ t teach
/d/ d do
/g/ g agree
/k/ c, ch, k, q(u) cottage, Christmas,
keep, quiet, Iraq

©Dani1999

25
 8.Exercises.
1. Put these words into one of the boxes according to the main
vowel
sound.

Can Lack Thing Each Says

Gap Need Real Dark Claim
Any Can’t Quite Heart Guide
Young Them Might Love Much
Plain Give Say Which Fat
Week Past State Eat It
Hide Let Are Man But

/ eɪ / / i: / /ɪ/ / aɪ / /e/ / ɑ: / /æ/ /ʌ/

2. Put these words into their box according to the consonant

sound.

Fourth Fifth Length Seventh Eighth Warmth

Teeth Bath Thick Through Three Mouth
Faith Twelfth Cloth The This That
26
There Then Though These Those They
Rather Mother Further Them Clothes Weather
Their With Father Brother Another Breathe
Either Together Leather Than Think Thief
Death Width Thin Both Thanks Thousand
Thirty Thirteen Thursday Truth Health Birthday
Worth Theatre Fourth Method Wealthy Month

/Ɵ/ /ð/

3. Put these words into a box according to the main vowel sound.

Pen Yes Desk Help When Tell

It In His Six Film Milk
She Be He Read Please Speak
Or For Sport Four Your You’re
One Bus But Cup Club Some
A Pizza Again Banana Camera The
Her Verb Girl First Third Word
Ask Bar Park Star Start Large
On Hot Not Job From Rock
Do Who Too Fool School You
27
 Put Full Book Cook Good Football
Am At Bag Man Bank Have

/ʊ/

/ɒ/

/æ/

/ ɑ: /

/ u: /

/e/

/ǝ/

/ i: /

/ ɔ: /

/ ɜ: /

/ɪ/

/ʌ/

4. Put these words into a box according to the main vowel sound.

Spell This Just Work Wrong Look

Stress With Much World Want Room
Twelve Sing Lunch Learn What Could
French Think Come Search Got Would
Get Is Love Birthday Long Push
Greece Board Sister Dance Use That
Key Door Cassette Are New Black
Ski Small Today Car Two Stand
Peace Talk Actor Glass Blue Thanks
Free Call Mister Cigar Juice Cat
Stop Cross Dog Uniform Shoot Nurse
German Miss And Sister Circle Pill

/ʊ/

/ɒ/

28
/æ/

/ ɑ: /

/ u: /

/e/

/ǝ/

/ i: /

/ ɔ: /

/ ɜ: /

/ɪ/

/ʌ/

5. Put these words in a box according to the main vowel sound:

Could First Groom Floor Don’t

Sure Sound Church Lock Off
Ought Block Group Should Move
Found Own Phone Thought Cook
Heard House Choose Bought Only
Door Would Work Now Girl
Good Got Room How More

/ ǝ: / /ʊ/ /ɒ/ / u: / / aʊ / / ɔ: / / ǝʊ /

29
 6 .Put these words in a box according to the main dipthong sound:

Hi Pair Fire Like Name Cry

Hair Fine Where Plural Wear Their
Change Point Noise Voice Royal Toy
Dear Hear Near Real Here Poor
How Now Town Brown Our Hour
Date Nice Take Page Oil Plane
Go Cold Close Smoke Low Home
Tour Tourist There Pure Europe Beer

/ ʊǝ / / ɔɪ / / eɪ / / aɪ / / ǝʊ / / aʊ / / ɪǝ / / eǝ /

30
 7. Put these words into a box according to the main dipthong
sound:
Night Write My Why Bye They’re
Noise Unemploye We’re Noun Count Pound
d
Sound Row Eight They Day Say
Explained Make Great Pay Became Raining
Maid Don’t Phone Road Know Show
Frozen So Sure Like Bike Train

/ ʊǝ / / ɔɪ / / eɪ / / aɪ / / ǝʊ / / aʊ / / ɪǝ / / eǝ /

8. Put these words in a box according to the consonant sound:

Watch Which March Teach French Chess
31
John Job Jump Jacket Bridge Badge
Church Cheap Cheese Chips Children Teache
r
Just Village Jeans January Germany Manage
r
Much Picture Lunch Which Catch Change
Imagine Age Orange Huge Bridge Joke
Such Butcher Much Touch Coach Jam
Garage Jail Juice Judge Question Strange

/ʧ/ /ʤ/

9. Put these words in a box according to the consonantal sound:

Is His Tins Bins These Zoo
Fish Flash Shoes Machine Sharp Patient
Say Yes Stops Stars Sister Six
Television Pleasure Unusual Treasure Casualty Leisure
Music Essay Days Eyes Pens Use
She Shop Short Shout Dish Sugar

32
 Asks Lesson City Police Gets Makes
Revision Garage Strange Vision Division Usually
Ship Crash Sure Tissue Finish Station
Polish Push Sheep Does Zebra Dozen

/z/ /s/ /ʃ/ /ʒ/

10. Put these words in a box according to the consonant sound:

Knives Voice Wives Over View Very
From Wife First Friday After Before
Five Active Eleven Seventeen Shave Vowel
Office Half Fat Coffee Photo Fine
Seven Have Love Of Move Have
Finger Knife Far Enough Fill If
Twelve Visit Off Traffic Fog Elepha
nt

33
 /f/ /v/

11. Put these words in a box according to the consonantal sound:

Yellow Young Your Year Yesterday Use
He She Hat Hello Behind Who
Wrong Helping Think Anger Wing Doing
Cat Comic Coffee Drink Lock Caught
What Way Which Where Wheel Well
University Beautiful Yes Dirty Few Queen
Hungry Hotel High How Hundred Help
Living Building Waving Flying Shooting Languag
e
Park Car Clock Capital Constructi Quiet
on
Why Water Wrong Window Worry Question
Chocolate Look Uncle Young Yield Queue

/k/ /w/ /h/ /ŋ/ /j/

34
 ðI ǝ’pIǝrǝns ǝv ðI ’ ɑIlǝnd wen ɑI ’keIm ɒn ’dek nekst
’mɔ:nIŋ wǝz

’ɒltǝgeðǝ ’ʧeInʤd . ɒl’ðǝʊ ðǝ ’bri:z hǝd ’nɑʊ ’ʌtǝlI ’feIld ,

wI

ǝd meId ǝ ’greIt dIl ǝv ’weI djʊǝrIŋ ðǝ ’nɑIt , ǝnd wǝ

’nɑʊ

’lɑIIŋ bI’kɑ:md ǝbɑʊt ’hɑ:f ǝ ’mɑIl tǝ ðǝ ’sɑʊθ ’Ist

ǝv ðǝ

’lǝʊ ’Istǝn ’kǝʊst . ’greI kʌlǝd ’wu:dz ’kʌvǝd ǝ lɑ:ʤ

’pɑ:t ǝv

ðǝ ’sɜ:fIs . ’ðIs ’i:vn ’tInt ’wɔ:z Indi:d ’brǝʊkn ’ʌp bɑI

’strIks

ǝv ’jelǝʊ ’sændbreIk In ðǝ ’lɒwǝ lɑ:ndz , ǝnd bɑI ’menI

’tɔ:l

35
 ’tri:z ǝv ðǝ ’pɑIn ’fæmI lI ’ɑʊtɒpIŋ ðI ’ʌðǝz -’sʌm
’sIŋglI ,

’sʌm In ’k lʌmps ; bǝt ðǝ ’ʤenrǝl ’kʌlǝrIŋ wǝz ’jʊnIŋfɔ:m

ǝnd

’sɑ:d . ðǝ ’hI lz ’rʌn ’ʌp ’klIǝ ǝbʌv ðǝ ve’ʤIteIʃn In

’spɑIǝz

ǝv ’neIkId ’rɔ:k . ɔ:l wǝ ’streInʤlI ’ʃeIpt , ǝnd ðǝ ’spɑI -

glɑ:s ,

wItʃ wǝz bɑI θri: ɒ ’fɔ: hʌndrǝd ’fIt ðǝ ’tɔ:lIst ɒn ðǝ

’ɑI lǝnd , wǝz ’ lɑIkwɑIse ðǝ ’streInʤIst In kǝnfIgju’reIʃn

,

’rʌnIŋ ’ʌp ’ʃIǝ frǝm ɒlmǝʊst ’evrI ’sɑId, ǝnd ’ðǝn

’sʌdnlI

’kʌt ’ɒf ǝt ðǝ ’tɒp lɑIK ǝ ’pedIstl tǝ pʊt ǝ ’stætjʊ

ɔ:n .

frɒm ’treʒǝ ’ɑIlǝnd bɑI ’rɒbǝt ’lu:Is ’sti:vǝnsǝn.

Now write the words represented:

1. dI‘lɑItfʊl
2. ‘grævl
3. mеǝ
4. pɔ:
5. ‘pеItrIɑ:kI
6. ‘rʌbǝ
7. ‘trʌblsǝm
8. rIʤ
9. træns’mIʃǝn
10. ‘zIǝrǝʊ
11. ‘mǝʒǝ

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