In the study of English, learning the following rules of English pronunciation will allow rapid improvement in your ability to read and spell English words. Please note that English vowels and the consonant r are often pronounced differently in different countries. The pronunciation described here is that of Canadian English. First the consonants and then the vowels are discussed.
The English consonants are: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z.
The English vowels are: a, e, i, o, u. The letter y can also act as a vowel.
The English Consonants
b For example,
big.
b is usually pronounced like "b" as in Mandarin pinyin "ba".
However, in a few words, for example
comb,
b is silent.
c For example,
cat.
c is usually pronounced like "k" as in pinyin "kan".
However, before
e,
i or
y, for example
ceiling or
city,
c is usually pronounced like "s" as in pinyin "san".
ch For example,
chair.
ch is usually pronounced somewhat like "q" as in pinyin "qin".
ck For example,
back.
ck is usually pronounced like "k" as in pinyin "kan".
d For example,
desk.
d is usually pronounced like "d" as in pinyin "da".
dge For example,
bridge.
dge is usually pronounced like "zh" as in pinyin "zhan".
f For example,
fish.
f is usually pronounced like "f" as in pinyin "fu".
g For example,
go .
g is usually pronounced like "g" as in pinyin "gou".
However, before
e,
i or
y, for example
ginger,
g is often pronounced like "j" as in pinyin "jin".
gh In some words, for example,
laugh,
gh is pronounced like "f" as in pinyin "fu".
However, in some words, for example,
high,
gh is silent.
h For example,
head .
h is usually pronounced somewhat like "h" as in pinyin "hao".
However, in a few words, for example
hour,
h is silent.
j For example,
jade .
j is usually pronounced somewhat like "j" as in pinyin "jin".
k For example,
kitchen .
k is usually pronounced like "k" as in pinyin "kan".
kn For example,
knife .
kn is often pronounced like "n" as in pinyin "na".
l For example,
leaf .
l is usually pronounced like "l" as in pinyin "lao".
However, in a few words, for example
talk,
l is silent.
m For example,
moon .
m is usually pronounced like "m" as in pinyin "mao".
n For example,
now .
n is usually pronounced like "n" as in pinyin "na".
ng For example,
sing . The pronunciation of
ng is usually similar to Mandarin pronunciation. For example, the
ing of
sing is pronounced like "ing" as in pinyin "bing".
p For example,
paper .
p is usually pronounced like "p" as in pinyin "ping".
ph For example,
phone .
ph is usually pronounced like "f" as in pinyin "fu".
qu For example,
quiet .
qu is usually pronounced like English
kw. For example, the
qui of
quiet is pronounced like pinyin "kuai".
r For example,
read .
r is usually pronounced somewhat like "r" as in pinyin "ru".
s For example,
sun .
s is often pronounced like "s" as in pinyin "san".
However, in some words, for example
nose,
s is pronounced like English
z.
In a few words, for example,
television,
s is pronounced a little like "zh" as in pinyin "zhi"; however, the tongue does not stop the flow of air at the beginning of the sound, as is the case with pinyin "zhi".
sh For example,
ship .
sh is usually pronounced somewhat like "x" as in pinyin "xiao".
t For example,
tea .
t is usually pronounced like "t" as in pinyin "tou".
tch For example,
kitchen .
tch is usually pronounced somewhat like "ch" as in pinyin "cha".
th For example,
think .
th is usually pronounced a little like "x" as in pinyin "xiao"; however, the tip of the tongue must be placed between the front teeth.
In some words, for example
think,
th is aspirated (i.e. pronounced with a puff of air).
However, in some words, for example
this,
th is not aspirated.
tion For example,
action .
tion is often pronounced like pinyin "shen".
v For example,
television .
v is pronounced a little like "w" as in pinyin "wei"; however, the lower lip must touch the top front teeth.
w For example,
water .
w is usually pronounced like "w" as in pinyin "wan".
wh For example,
what .
wh is usually pronounced like "w" as in pinyin "wan".
wr For example,
write .
wr is usually pronounced somewhat like "r" as in pinyin "ru".
x For example,
box .
x is usually pronounced like English
ks, where
k is pronounced like "k" as in pinyin "kan", and
s is pronounced like "s" as in pinyin "san".
However, at the beginning of a word, for example
xylophone,
x is often pronounced like English
z.
y For example,
yesterday .
y is often pronounced like "y" as in pinyin "ye".
In some words, for example
city,
y is pronounced like pinyin "yi".
In some words, for example
fly,
y is pronounced like pinyin "ai".
z For example,
zoo .
z is pronounced a little like "z" as in pinyin "zi"; however, the tongue does not stop the flow of air at the beginning of the sound, as is the case with pinyin "z".
The English Vowels
a Before two consonants, for example
sand, the pronunciation of
a is usually similar to Mandarin pronunciation. For example, the
san of
sand is pronounced like pinyin "san".
Before a single consonant at the end of a word, for example
fan, the pronunciation of
a is usually similar to Mandarin pronunciation. For example,
fan is pronounced like pinyin "fan".
Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, for example
fate,
a is usually pronounced like "ei" as in pinyin "mei".
Before
l, for example
all,
a is usually pronounced somewhat like pinyin "a".
After
qu or
w, for example
water or
squash,
a is often pronounced somewhat like pinyin "a".
ai For example,
rain.
ai is often pronounced like "ei" as in pinyin "mei".
au For example,
daughter.
au is usually pronounced somewhat like pinyin "a".
aw For example,
saw.
aw is usually pronounced somewhat like pinyin "a".
ay For example,
day.
ay is usually pronounced like "ei" as in pinyin "mei".
e Before two consonants, for example
desk,
e is usually pronounced like "e" as in pinyin "ye".
Before a single consonant at the end of a word, for example
bed,
e is usually pronounced like "e" as in pinyin "ye".
Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, in some words, for example
ever,
e is pronounced like "e" as in pinyin "ye".
Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, in some words, for example
even,
e is pronounced like pinyin "yi".
At the end of very short words, for example
be,
e is usually pronounced like pinyin "yi".
At the end of a word, for example
fate,
e is usually silent. However, very short words are an exception, for example
be.
ea In some words, for example,
bead,
ea is pronounced like pinyin "yi".
However, in some words, for example,
head,
ea is pronounced like "e" as in pinyin "ye".
ee For example,
green.
ee is usually pronounced like pinyin "yi".
er For example,
her.
er is usually pronounced somewhat like pinyin "er".
ew For example,
new.
ew is often pronounced somewhat like "u" as in pinyin "tu".
i Before two consonants, in some words, for example
mint, the pronunciation of
i is similar to Mandarin pronunciation. For example, the
min of
mint is pronounced like pinyin "min".
Before a single consonant at the end of a word, for example
pin, the pronunciation of
i is usually similar to Mandarin pronunciation. For example,
pin is pronounced like pinyin "pin".
Before two consonants, in some words, for example
wild,
i is pronounced like pinyin "ai".
Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, for example
like,
i is usually pronounced like pinyin "ai".
ie In some words, for example,
tie,
ie is pronounced like pinyin "ai".
However, in some words, for example,
shield,
ie is pronounced like pinyin "yi".
o Before two consonants, in some words, for example
rock,
o is pronounced somewhat like pinyin "a".
Before a single consonant at the end of a word, for example
not,
o is usually pronounced somewhat like pinyin "a".
Before two consonants, in some words, for example
old,
o is pronounced like pinyin "ou".
Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, for example
note,
o is usually pronounced like pinyin "ou".
oa For example,
boat.
oa is usually pronounced like pinyin "ou".
oe For example,
toe.
oe is often pronounced like pinyin "ou".
oi For example,
coin . The
o is pronounced like pinyin "ou", and the
i is pronounced like pinyin "yi".
oo In some words, for example,
moon,
oo is pronounced like "u" as in pinyin "tu".
However, in some words, for example,
book,
oo is pronounced somewhat like "e" as in pinyin "he".
ou In some words, for example,
round,
ou is pronounced like pinyin "ao".
However,
ou also has several other pronunciations. In some words, for example "thought",
ou is pronounced somewhat like pinyin "a".
In some words, for example "although",
ou is pronounced like pinyin "ou".
In some words, for example "through",
ou is pronounced like "u" as in pinyin "tu".
In some words, for example "should",
ou is pronounced somewhat like "e" as in pinyin "he".
In some words, for example "enough",
ou is pronounced somewhat like "o" as in pinyin "wo", but with the mouth opened a little wider.
ow In some words, for example,
now,
ow is pronounced like pinyin "ao".
However, in some words, for example,
pillow,
ow is pronounced like pinyin "ou".
oy For example,
boy . The
o is pronounced like pinyin "ou", and the
y is pronounced like pinyin "yi".
u Before two consonants, in some words, for example
pull,
u is pronounced somewhat like "e" as in pinyin "he".
Before a single consonant at the end of a word, in some words, for example
put,
u is pronounced somewhat like "e" as in pinyin "he".
Before two consonants, in some words, for example
duck,
u is pronounced somewhat like "o" as in pinyin "wo", but with the mouth opened a little wider.
Before one consonant at the end of a word, in some words, for example
sun,
u is pronounced somewhat like "o" as in pinyin "wo", but with the mouth opened a little wider.
Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, for example
June,
u is usually pronounced like "u" as in pinyin "tu".
ue For example,
blue.
ue is usually pronounced like "u" as in pinyin "tu".
ui For example,
fruit.
ui is often pronounced like "u" as in pinyin "tu".