Phonetics of English Vowels and Consonants

Front

Vowel 'a' sound /æ/

Back

Example: 'cat' (kæt)

Front

Vowel 'a' sound /eɪ/

Back

Example: 'cake' (keɪk)

Front

Vowel 'e' sound /ɛ/

Back

Example: 'bed' (bɛd)

Front

Vowel 'e' sound /i/

Back

Example: 'be' (bi)

Front

Vowel 'i' sound /ɪ/

Back

Example: 'sit' (sɪt)

Front

Vowel 'i' sound /aɪ/

Back

Example: 'time' (taɪm)

Front

Vowel 'o' sound /ɒ/

Back

Example: 'cot' (kɒt)

Front

Vowel 'o' sound /oʊ/

Back

Example: 'boat' (boʊt)

Front

Vowel 'u' sound /ʌ/

Back

Example: 'cup' (kʌp)

Front

Vowel 'u' sound /u/

Back

Example: 'flute' (fluːt)