E P Tips

English Pronunciation Tips

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    • <-se> Episode 1
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    • Transcription 1
  • Vowels
    • No schwa!
    • Vowel alternation: aɪ ~ ɪ
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    • ə elision in the first syllable
  • Word endings
    • -(m)ony = (m)əni
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-ment

If a word with this ending is a noun, then usually the pronunciation is mənt , unless the last syllable is stressed. Some examples:

arrangment =  əˈreɪndʒmənt
fulfilment =  fʊlˈfɪlmənt
monument = ˈmɒnjəmənt
pavement = ˈpeɪvmənt

but

cement = sɪˈment

If, on the other hand, the word is a verb, then the pronunciation is ment. There are a number of noun/verb pairs which are distinguished by the pronunciation of the ending.

NOUN VERB
ˈkɒmplɪmənt ˈkɒmplɪment
ˈdɒkjəmənt ˈdɒkjəment
ˈɪmplɪmənt ˈɪmplɪment
ˈsʌplɪmənt ˈsʌplɪment

http://blogjam.name/EPTips/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ment.mp3
Alternative sound

Annoyingly, or intriguingly, depending on your point of view, the noun torment is pronounced ˈtɔːment and the related verb is tɔːˈment.

By the way, the last syllable of my surname is pronounced mənt.

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    Latest update: 2015_04_18
    Number of tips: 246
    Number of tips with sound: 42

    Latest changes:

    Updated and added sound to -ese

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