The most frequent pronunciation of the letter sequence <ai> is eɪ, as in
aim drain laid maize obtain paid rail sailor straight train wait
However there are a few words which do not have this pronunciation:
- said is sed
- again and against have e for some speakers and eɪ for others
- plaid is plæd and plait is plæt
- aisle is aɪl
When the sequence is followed by <r>, the pronunciation is eə, as in
air chair fair pair stairs
The unstressed ending <ain> is ən (or ɪn for some speakers), as in
bargain captain curtain fountain mountain
2013_10_04
Updated 2013_10_08