Decoding Vowel Sounds

Front

What is a vowel?

Back

A vowel is a letter in the alphabet that represents a speech sound made without any closure or blockage of the vocal tract. The vowels in English are A, E, I, O, U.

Front

What are the five main vowels in the English alphabet?

Back

A, E, I, O, U.

Front

What is a consonant?

Back

A consonant is a letter in the alphabet that represents a speech sound made with some closure or blockage of the vocal tract.

Front

What is a diphthong?

Back

A diphthong is a complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel sound and glides into another within the same syllable.

Front

What is the difference between short and long vowel sounds?

Back

Short vowel sounds are pronounced quickly and do not say the name of the vowel (e.g., 'a' in 'cat'). Long vowel sounds are pronounced the same as the name of the vowel (e.g., 'a' in 'cake').

Front

Give an example of a word with a short 'a' sound.

Back

Cat.

Front

Give an example of a word with a long 'e' sound.

Back

See.

Front

What is a silent vowel?

Back

A silent vowel is a vowel that is not pronounced in a word, such as the 'e' in 'cake'.

Front

What is a vowel team?

Back

A vowel team is two vowels that work together to make one sound, such as 'ai' in 'rain'.

Front

What is a schwa sound?

Back

The schwa sound is an unstressed and neutral vowel sound, often represented by the symbol 'ə', as in the first syllable of 'banana'.