E P Tips

English Pronunciation Tips

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    • <-se> Episode 1
    • <-se> Episode 2
    • <-se> Episode 3
    • <a> is not ʌ
    • <ai>
    • <al>
    • <au>
    • <bt>
    • <cc>
    • <ch> = k
    • <ch> = ʃ
    • <ea> = e
    • <eak>
    • <ear> = ɜː
    • <ease>
    • <ei> = eɪ
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    • <ng> again
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    • <ou> = ʌ
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    • <our> = ɜː
    • <ove> = ʌv
    • <ove> does not = ʌv
    • <qu> = k
    • <s> = ʒ
    • <ss>
    • <th> = t
    • <ui>
    • <w(h)a> and <qua(w)>
    • <wor> = wɜː
    • Initial <th> = ð
    • Silent <h>
    • Silent <s>
    • Silent <w>
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  • Symbols
  • Transcriptions
    • Transcription 1
  • Vowels
    • No schwa!
    • Vowel alternation: aɪ ~ ɪ
    • Vowel alternation: eɪ ~ æ
    • Vowel alternation: iː ~ e
    • Vowel alternation: əʊ ~ ɒ
    • ə elision in the first syllable
  • Word endings
    • -(m)ony = (m)əni
    • -(n)gue
    • -ac
    • -ade
    • -age = ɑːʒ
    • -ance
    • -ane
    • -ary and -ory
    • -ate
    • -chief
    • -cious
    • -eous
    • -et
    • -ex(e)
    • -ful(ly)
    • -gm
    • -i = aɪ
    • -ice
    • -ine
    • -ious
    • -ique
    • -ite = ɪt
    • -less
    • -ment
    • -mn
    • -ngle
    • -nomy & -tomy
    • -olic
    • -on
    • -oose
    • -oric(al)
    • -our
    • -our = aʊə
    • -path
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    • -sis
    • -sten & -stle
    • -ture
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    • Non-silent <e>

<w(h)a> and <qua(w)>

First the simple bits…

The sequence <quaw> is always pronounced kwɔː, and in fact occurs in a very few words.  Squaw and squawk are the only ones I can think of  at the moment.

The sequences <ware> and <quare> are pronounced with the vowel eə.  Aware and square are examples.

Now things get a bit more complicated…

There are many words which contain one of the sequences where the vowel is ɒ. Here is a list of some of these:

quaff quality quantity quarrel quarry quash squab squabble squalid squash swallow swan swap waft wallow wan want warren wash what watch

The word water is an oddity. It is of course pronounced ˈwɔːtə.

As you can see from the above list, if one of the sequences is followed by <r> or <rr> or <l> or <ll>, which  in turn is followed by a vowel, then the vowel in the sequence is ɒ.  However, if a consonant or nothing follows then the vowel in the sequence is pronounced ɔː, as in:

quart quarter squall sward swarf swarm walk wall war ward warm warn warp wart wharf

The word qualm is another oddity. It is pronounced kwɑːm.

There are some words where the vowel is æ. Here are the examples:

quack quango swag swank thwack wag whack wax

These all have in common the fact that the next sound is one of k ɡ ŋ. The words swam and wham also have æ. Thanks to Alex Rotatori for reminding me that the wonderful word quagmire has two competing pronunciations: one with ɒ and the other with æ.

Finally, here are some words where the vowel is eɪ.

quail quake quaver wafer wage wake waif waist wail waive waiver Wales wane waste wave waver way whale

See also quay.


2013_09_17
Updated 2013_09_18

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