The most accurate pronunciation of 12 English monophthongs

Monophthongs are an important part of English knowledge. In the article below, PREP will provide you with the concept, pronunciation of English monophthongs, and the distinction between short and long monophthongs.

I. What are English monophthongs?

Let's learn the definition and identifying features of English monophthongs with PREP!

1. Definition

A monophthong (/ˈmɑː.nəf.θɑːŋ/) is a vowel sound in which the tongue and other articulating organs do not move during the production of the sound. A syllable consists of only one single vowel, unlike diphthongs - a combination of two adjacent vowels in the same syllable.

2. Identifying features of English monophthongs

The identifying features of English monophthongs include:

• Monophthongs can appear in any position within a word. However, they often appear in the middle of a word. For example:

  • Meet /miːt/ ➞ Monophthong: /iː/

  • Cat /kæt/ ➞ Monophthong: /æ/

• You can find monophthongs at the beginning and end of a word. For example:

  • After has the monophthong /a/ at the beginning of the word.

  • Lazy has the monophthong /y/ at the end of the word.

• Monophthongs are also classified into short and long monophthongs. To understand this concept better, please continue reading the article.

II. How to pronounce monophthongs

Below, PREP will guide you on how to pronounce 12 monophthongs with examples. Let’s take a look at the English monophthong list below!

1. Short vowels

In addition, you can refer to the pronunciation of the 7 short vowels in the video below:

MASTER English Pronunciation | The 7 Short Vowel Sounds | Sound Like a Native Speaker!

2. Long vowels

You can also refer to the video below to learn the pronunciation of the 5 long vowels:

MASTER English Pronunciation | The 5 LONG Vowel Sounds | Sound Like a Native Speaker!

III. Effective method for learning English monophthongs

When learning to pronounce English monophthongs accurately, there are several important considerations:

• Learn with IPA: Learn and use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to understand and distinguish between monophthongs. IPA provides precise symbols to describe the sound of each vowel.

• Pay attention to height and roundedness: Monophthongs vary in height (high, mid, low) and roundedness (rounded, unrounded). Try to recognize and recreate these differences in your pronunciation.

• Differentiate between short and long: In English, some monophthongs can be pronounced either short or long, and this difference can change the meaning of a word. Listen carefully to identify and practice both types of pronunciations.

• Practice listening and speaking regularly: Try to find English audio/video guides on pronouncing monophthongs and repeat after the instructions until you master them.

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IV. Differences between short vowels and long vowels

The main differences between short vowels and long vowels in English are:

V. Exercises for practicing monophthongs

To become fluent in pronouncing monophthongs (single vowels) in English, let's explore the following with PREP!

Exercise: Choose the answer that has a different pronunciation than the other words.

Answers:

The above has introduced the definitions, correct pronunciations, and practice exercises for English monophthongs. Let’s follow PREP regularly to stay updated on lots of useful knowledge!