vowel speech sound meaning

What is a Vowel? Definition, Examples of English Vowels

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Vowel definition: A vowel is a sound produced with a comparatively open configuration of the vocal tract. In everyday language, a vowel is a letter (sound) of the English alphabet that is not a consonant.

What is a Vowel?

A vowel is most often identified as a letter that is not a consonant. More specifically, a vowel is a sound that when paired with a consonant makes a syllable.

A vowel is any sound that a letter makes that is not a consonant sound.

What are the vowels? There are five English vowels,

• A, E, I, O, U.

Sometimes, Y can also function as a vowel, but it is not considered a vowel in and of itself.

• “a” is a vowel in this word
• “e” and “e” are vowels in this word
• “a” and “e” are vowels in this word

Vowels and Consonants

English consonants are: B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y (sometimes), Z.

Consonants and vowels do not make syllables on their own. A vowel paired with a consonant makes a syllable.

Example of consonants in words:

• “b” and “n” are the consonants in this word
• “s,” “t,” and “l” are the consonants in this word
• “c,” “h,” and “r” are the consonants in this word

Forming Syllables

Syllables can have more than one letter. However, a syllable cannot have more than one sound.

Furthermore, syllables can have more than one vowel and more than one consonant. Still, a syllable cannot have more than one consonant or vowel sound.

Examples of syllables in words will help clarify this concept.

• one syllable
• two consonants “t” and “r” “w” and two vowels “e” and “e”
• two syllables
• “ho”: one consonant “h” plus one vowel “o”
• “ly”: one consonant “l” plus one vowel “y”
• three syllables
• “ex”: one vowel “e” plus one consonant “x”
• “am”: one vowel “a” plus one consonant “m”
• “ple” : two consonants “p” and “l” plus one vowel “e”
• two consonants “l” “k” plus one two vowels “a” and “e”

Literary Devices That Use Vowels

Assonance is often used in poetry when writers use sound to create meaning.

It is important to note that assonance is not rhyme.

Example of Assonance:

• the green tree bleeds its honeyed sap
• the repetition of the long “e” sound in the words “green,” “tree,” and “bleeds” creates assonance

The following is an example of assonance from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Bells”

Hear the sledges with the bells—

Silver bells!

What a world of merriment their melody foretells!

In these lines, Poe use the short “e” sound to create assonance. Here is another look at the lines with the terms that create assonance underlined.

Hear the sledges with the bells —

Silver bells !

What a world of merriment their melody foretells !

Poe uses the words of this poem to reinforce the sound of the bells. He selects words specifically to sound as though the poem itself is making bell-like noises.

The assonance reinforces the melody of the bells themselves.

Consequently, writers should only use assonance when they understand its purpose. Like any literary device, assonance should connect to meaning and be used with intention.

Summary: What are Vowels?

Define vowel: the definition of vowel is a speech sound produced without blocking the breath channel; anything that is not a consonant.

In summary, a vowel is:

• not a consonant
• A, E, I, O, U, (and sometimes Y)
• paired with a consonant to make a syllable
• used to create the literary device assonance

The 20 vowels sounds in English with examples

Do want to learn more about the american english sounds? You’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we discuss everything you need to know, starting with the basics.

What are vowel sounds?

Categories of the vowel sounds, why is vowel sounds hard to pronounce.

• Short vowels in the IPA
• Long vowels in the IPA
• Diphthong vowels (double) in the IPA

English has fifteen vowel sounds represented by the letters a, e, i, o, and u. The letters y, w, and gh are also commonly used in vowel sound-spellings. Vowel sounds are produced with a relatively open vocal tract. Consonant sounds, in contrast, are created by pushing air through a small opening in the vocal tract or by building up air in the vocal tract, then releasing it.

Vowel sounds are divided into the following three categories:

• Long vowels (vowels that sound like the letter name)
• Short vowels (the most common sound for a single vowel spelling)
• Other vowels (the remaining vowel sounds)

The long vowel sounds are not pronounced for longer time than short vowel sounds! It is important for ESL/ELL/EFL students to realize that the terms "long" and "short" are not describing the length of time a vowel sound is said.

These archaic terms are still in popular use in American classrooms and online. They are used here to give a name to a vowel sound so when the sound is discussed, the name and not the sound (which many beginner students cannot yet hear correctly) is used.

If you are interested in knowing how to pronounce all vowels sound click here

At their simplest, short vowel sounds are usually spelled with a single letter, while long vowel and other vowel sounds are generally spelled with combinations of letters. This should not be taken as a strict rule when learning English pronunciation, however, as there are a large number of exceptions.

Many spelling patterns of English pronunciation have the possibility of two or more pronunciations using that single spelling. For example, the letters 'e-a' have a different pronunciation in the words team (long e /i/) and dead (short e /ɛ/). It is helpful to learn the common spellings for each vowel sound along with knowing all the possible pronunciations for each spelling.

The English language also has a large number of words that are not pronounced the way their spelling suggests. These are called non-phonetic words and must be memorized individually.

What are the English Vowel Sound IPA symbols (International Phonetic Alphabet)? English has 20 vowel sounds.

Short vowels in the IPA are:

/ɪ/ – fit /fiːt/, pick /piːk/, difficult /ˈdɪ.fɪ.kəlt/

/e/ – pet /pet/, sent /sent/, attention /əˈten.ʃən/

/æ/ – pat /pæt/, flat /flæt/, family /ˈfæ.mə.li/

/ʌ/ – cut /kʌt/ jump /dʒʌmp/, cover /ˈkʌ.vər/

/ʊ/ – put /pʊt/, book /bʊk/, cushion /ˈkʊ.ʃən/

/ɒ/ – pot /pɒt/, dog /dɒg/, hospital /ˈhɒs.pɪ.təl/

/ə/ – about /əˈbaʊt/, system /ˈsɪs.təm/, complete /kəmˈpliːt/.

Long vowels in the IPA are:

/i:/ week /wi:k/, feet /fi:t/, media /ˈmiː.di.jə/

/ɑ:/ hard /ha:/, park /pa:k/, article /ɑː.tɪ.kəl/

/ɔ:/ fork /fɔ:k/, walk /wɔ:k/, August /ɔːˈɡʌst/

/ɜ:/ heard /hɜ:d/, word /wɜ:d/, surface /ˈsɜː.fɪs/

/u:/ boot /bu:t/, group /gru:p/, beautiful /ˈbjuː.tɪ.fəl/

Diphthong vowels (double) in the IPA are:

/eɪ/ place /pleɪs/, late /leɪt/, dangerous /ˈdeɪn.dʒə.rəs/

/oʊ/ home /hoʊm/, phone /foʊn/, global /ˈɡloʊ.bəl/

/aʊ/ mouse /maʊs/, brown /braʊn/, accountant /əˈkaʊn.t̬ənt/

/ɪə/ clear /klɪə/, fear /fɪə/, career /kəˈrɪə/

/eə/ care /keə/, wear /weə/, declare /dɪˈkleə/

/ɔɪ/ boy /bɔɪ/, toy /tɔɪ/, enjoyable /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ.jə.bəl/

/aɪ/ find /faɪnd/, bite /baɪt/, tiger /ˈtaɪ.ɡə/

/ʊə/ tour /tʊə/, pure /pʊə/, mature /məˈtʃʊə/

How can I improve my English pronunciation for free?

Being understood requires good pronunciation. Correct word pronunciation requires continual practice and drills. You must be aware of word pronunciation and how to pronounce words correctly. Any English student may master excellent pronunciation with some time, persistence, and probably some app assistance.

For ESL students, pronunciation is a crucial ability to develop. The applications for testing pronunciation and listening accuracy are listed below.

Do you find it difficult to pronounce English words correctly or to comprehend the phonetic alphabet's symbols?

The collection of English pronunciation tools of the EnglishPhonetics below is for anyone learning the language who want to practice their pronunciation at any time or place.

(FREE) English Accent Speaking test with Voice and Video

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Listen to all International Phonetics Alphabet sounds, learn its subtle differences

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Contrasting Sounds or Minimal Pairs Examples

Minimal pairs are an outstanding resource for english learning, linguist and for speech therapy

English pronunciation checker online

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Eriberto Do Nascimento

Eriberto Do Nascimento has Ph.D. in Speech Intelligibility and Artificial Intelligence and is the founder of English Phonetics Academy

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Meaning of vowel in English

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• accommodation
• alliterative
• labiodental
• mispronounce
• postalveolar
• postconsonantal
• the International Phonetic Alphabet
• unpronounceable
• unrepeatable

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

vowel | Intermediate English

Examples of vowel, collocations with vowel.

These are words often used in combination with vowel .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of vowel

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A scripted speech or broadcast has been written before it is read or performed.

Varied and diverse (Talking about differences, Part 1)

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Definition of vowel

Examples of vowel in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vowel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English, from Anglo-French vowele , from Latin vocalis — more at vocalic

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vowel

• great vowel shift
• vowel point
• vowel rhyme

Articles Related to vowel

The Truth About 'Y': It's Mostly a Vowel

We need 'y' to be a consonant, but it acts more like a vowel.

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

Dictionary Entries Near vowel

vowel declension

Cite this Entry

“Vowel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vowel. Accessed 14 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of vowel, more from merriam-webster on vowel.

Nglish: Translation of vowel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of vowel for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vowel

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1 Chapter 1 – Vowel Sounds

INTRODUCTION

Five or six letters in the alphabet are  used to represent vowels in writing: a, e, i, o ,u and sometimes y .

In this book, however, we will focus on pronunciation rather than the letters in the alphabet.

There is a system for representing the pronunciation of vowels in writing. This alphabet is called the International Phonetic alphabet or the IPA. You will not need to learn the symbols in the IPA, but we will use them from time to time to help distinguish the sounds.

By the end of the chapter, readers will be able to…

• describe how individual vowels are produced
• describe how vowel diphthongs are produced
• produce vowel sounds in different words and phrases

HIGH-LOW, FRONT-BACK, AND (UN)ROUNDED VOWELS 

An introduction to the pronunciation of vowels requires a little understanding of how the sounds are made in the mouth. It’s also important to hear the sounds individually and in words.

This video from Ubc Visible Speech provides an overview of the pronunciation of vowels.

There are two kinds of vowel sounds monophthongs and diphthongs . Monophthongs have one vowel sound such as in the words “c a t” and “s i t.” Diphthongs are vowel sounds followed by another vowel. More information about diphthongs is given below.

Three criteria are used to describe the pronunciation of vowels: height , backness , and roundedness . These criteria refer to the position of the tongue and the lips.

• Three positions for height are: high, mid, low.
• Three positions of backness are: front, central, back
• Roundness refers to whether the lips are rounded or unrounded.

You can see the positions in this illustration of the vocal tract. The high vowels are represented by the IPA symbols [i], [ι], [ʊ ], and [u].

The low vowels are represented by the symbols [æ] and [a]. The front vowels are [i], [ι], [e], [ɛ], and [æ] and the back vowels are [u], [ʊ], [o ], [ɔ], and [a]. The mid central vowel is the shwa represented by [ə].

The Vocal Tract

Words with High-Low, Front-Back, and (Un)Rounded Vowels

TENSE AND LAX VOWELS

Vowels can be tense or lax. Tense vowels are pronounced with more tension in the vocal tract and lax vowels are pronounced with less tension. This video from Learn English with TIE explains differences between tense vowels and lax vowels.  Sometimes these vowels are referred to as short and long  but a more accurate way to describe them for pronunciation is tense and lax.

Tense vowels are pronounced with more tightness in the tongue, lips, and mouth more generally.  Lax vowels are pronounced in a more relaxed way with less tension. Practice the sounds and words with the speaker in the video to feel the difference between tense vowels and lax vowels.

Now listen to the the audio file and look at the words below. Listen for the difference between tense and lax vowels

https://opentext.ku.edu/app/uploads/sites/61/2023/03/Tense_Lax-Vowels.mp3

Tense and Lax Vowels

• b ea t    (Tense) — b i t  (Lax)
• b ai t     (Tense) — b e t (Lax)
• b oo t    (Tense) — b oo k (Lax)
• b oa t    (Tense) — b ou ght  (Lax)

The tense vowels, however, are not “pure” vowels. They are pronounced with a slight offglide . The offglide adds a brief [y] or [w] sound to the vowel. The sounds [i], [e], [u] and [o] are actually pronounced as: [i y ], e y ], u w ], [o w ].

DIPHTHONGS: [aι], [aʊ], and [ɔι]

Diphthongs are two vowel sounds pronounced together as in the words l ie, c ow , and t oy .  The linguistic symbols that represent these words are: [l aι ] for lie, [k aʊ ] for cow, and [t ɔι ] for toy.  Notice that two linguistic symbols are used to represent the two vowel sounds, which are pronounced together.

The [aι] Diphthong

This video from Sounds American explains and gives examples of how the diphthong [aι] is pronounced. To hear the sound and see a diagram, click on the diphthong below. At the end of the video (minute 8:22), the speaker considers the sounds [eι] as in f a ce and [oʊ] as in n o . Are these sounds diphthongs or monophthongs? One similarity with diphthongs is that both [eι] and [oʊ] are pronounced as moving or “gliding sounds,” which makes them like diphthongs. When studied carefully, however, there is not quite as much movement in the vocal tract when these two sounds are pronounced when compared with [ɔι], [aʊ], and [aι]. The takeaway point is that the tongue, jaw, and lips need to move a lot when pronouncing English vowels, especially diphthongs.

The [aʊ] Diphthong

When pronouncing [aʊ] as in the word r ou nd, begin with a low vowel. This means you will need to lower your jaw. Then, move your tongue to a high back position and round your lips. When this diphthong is pronounced as a stressed sound as in r ou nd, the jaw is lower and the sound is held longer. The diphthong can also be unstressed and shorter. The jaw is not as low and the lips are not as rounded for the unstressed pronunciation. An example is the word shutdown  as in the sentence, “ the governmental shutdown caused many problems .” This video from  Rachel’s English   provides a good example of how this diphthong is pronounced.

The [ɔι] Diphthong

The next diphthong is [ɔι] as in the words j oy , p oi nt, and s oi l . This sound begins with a mid-back vowel with some lip rounding. Then, the tongue moves to the high, front position and the lips are unrounded. This short video from bbclearningenglish.com shows how this sound is made. It is important to see how the jaw and lips move to pronounce this sound in words such as: ch oi ce, n oi se, and b oy . The speaker has a British accent, but the sound is quite similar to the North American pronunciation.

THE NORTH AMERICAN R- SOUND AND SOME R -DIPHTHONGS

For some people, learning to pronounce the r-sound can be difficult if this sound is not in your language. Another reason for the difficulty is that this sound is pronounced in different ways depending on the country and the region of the country. To make it easier to pronounce, the examples and illustrations used here are typical of the North American r-sound and r-diphthongs.

Tense and Lax R-Sound

The r-sounds [ɝ] and [ɚ] are vowels and their pronunciation is similar. The [ɝ] sound is tense and stressed as in the word f ir st. The sound [ɚ] is not stressed, so it sounds “weaker” as in the word aft er .  A description of this sound and some example are in this video from  Sounds American .

The R-Colored Vowels [ɝ] and [ɚ]

The R-Colored Vowel [ir]

The r-sound can also be a diphthong when it combines other vowel. The addition of the r-sound slightly changes the vowel sound. This change can be described as “adding some color” to the vowel sound, so this sound is sometimes called r-colored vowels. An example is the vowel [ι] + [r] as in words like h er o , h er e, cl ear , d eer , and z er o.  The North American and British pronunciations of this “r-colored” sound are different. For instance, the word deer  is pronounced as [dιr] in many places in North America. In British English, however, the [r] sound is reduced to [ə]. The word deer is pronounced as [dιə]. This video from Sounds American has diagrams of how this sound is pronounced in North America and examples from words such as appear , career , and cheer .

The R-Colored Vowel   [ɔr]

Like all diphthongs, the key to pronouncing this sound is to make a smooth connection between the [ɔ] and the [r]. This sound is in words such as sp or t ,  f our , or ange , and sw or d . Some speakers of North American English pronounce this diphthong as [o] + [r] rather than [ɔ] + [r]. Either way is fine! We can see an illustration of how this sound is pronounced in the vocal tract and hear examples of the pronunciation in this video from Sounds American .

The R-Colored Vowel  [ar]

When pronouncing r-colored diphthongs, be sure not to reduce the [r] sound. To pronounce this diphthong, start with the [a] sound. Lower your jaw to open your mouth wide and place your tongue low and flat at the bottom of your mouth. Then, transition to the [r] sound by rounding your lips, curling the tip of your tongue, and “bunching” the back of the tongue as show in the diagram below.

This video from  Sounds American offers more explanation and examples of how to produce this vowel.

The R-Colored Vowel  [ɛr]

This diphthong appears in words such as  air , c ar e, f air , h air ,  sh ar e , and  b ear .   The first sound in this diphthong is the mid, front, lax vowel [ɛ] as in the word  b e t. To pronounce the diphthong, start with [ɛ] and then move your tongue into the [r] sound. This video from Speech Modification Accent Training models the pronunciation of [ɛr] in three words: air, care, and airport.  Notice that the [r] sound at the end of a word can connect or blend with the beginning sound of the next word as in ca r e + a bout, which is pronounced as “ca r e -r about.” (The “e” in  car e   is not pronounced.)

MINIMAL SETS

Minimal sets are words that differ by only one sound. These are words that differ in the pronunciation of the vowel sound. One small difference in pronunciation, and the word has a different meaning. Listen to the different vowel sounds in these words.

seat – sit – set – sat 

https://opentext.ku.edu/app/uploads/sites/61/2023/08/Seat.mp3

disk – desk – dusk

https://opentext.ku.edu/app/uploads/sites/61/2023/08/Disk.mp3

wheat – wait – wet – what

https://opentext.ku.edu/app/uploads/sites/61/2023/08/Wheat.mp3

Pete – pit – pet – pat – put – putt – pot 

https://opentext.ku.edu/app/uploads/sites/61/2023/08/Peat.mp3

so – saw – see – sigh – Sue – sir 

https://opentext.ku.edu/app/uploads/sites/61/2023/08/Sew.mp3

neat – knit – not – note – nut

https://opentext.ku.edu/app/uploads/sites/61/2023/08/Neat.mp3

feast – fist – fast – first

https://opentext.ku.edu/app/uploads/sites/61/2023/08/Feast.mp3

heed – hid – head – had – hard – heard

https://opentext.ku.edu/app/uploads/sites/61/2023/08/Head.mp3

A Short Introduction to English Pronunciation Copyright © by marcellinoberardo and marinagreene is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Vowels: Definition, Meaning & What They Are Explained

Hannah Yang

We all know that the English vowels are A, E, I, O, and U, but it might be hard to understand exactly why this concept is so important.

So what exactly makes a letter a vowel?

The short answer is that vowels are speech sounds that you can pronounce without restricting the flow of air from the lungs .

This article will explain how vowels work and why they’re so important.

What Is a Vowel?

Why are vowels so important in english, origins of the word vowel, the difference between short & long vowels, do vowels exist in other languages, vowel definition.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a vowel is a speech sound made with your mouth open and your tongue in the middle of your mouth, not touching your teeth or lips.

Vowel Meaning

A vowel is a speech sound made without a significant constriction of the flow of air from the lungs.

Every vowel sound is made by shaping the mouth in a specific way without blocking the airflow. You can create unique sounds by placing your tongue in various different positions (front, central, or back) and at various heights (high, mid, or low). You can also change the shape of your lips (rounded, neutral, or spread).

One way to help understand this concept is by opening your mouth and saying “ahh.” Now try changing the shape of your mouth without blocking the flow of air. If you stretch your mouth wider into a spread shape, you make more of an “e” sound. If you round your lips, you make more of an “o” sound. When you change the position of your tongue, those sounds change as well. Congratulations—you’re making different vowels!

As soon as you restrict or close your airflow, you start making a consonant. For example, if you bring your lips together you create a consonant such as “ b ” or “ p .” If you touch your tongue to the top of your mouth, you create a consonant such as “ k ” or “ g .” If you put your tongue between your teeth, you make a sound like “ th. ”

Blocking the airflow is the difference between a vowel and a consonant.

Vowel Letters

The English language includes six vowel letters: A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y.

The letter Y is only sometimes a vowel because it can be pronounced as a consonant (such as in the words “yellow,” “yam,” and “kayak”) and sometimes as a vowel (such as in the words “sky,” “thyme,” and “lovely”).

It’s a consonant when it involves blocking the airflow out of your mouth, and it’s a vowel when it doesn’t.

Here are some examples of vowel letters in common English words:

• Unit : the vowel letters are “u” and “i”
• Chocolate : the vowel letters are “o,” “o,” “a,” and “e”
• Rainy : the vowel letters are “a,” “i,” and “y”

Vowel Sounds

Even though we only have five vowel letters in English (A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y), we actually have a lot more than five vowel sounds.

Each vowel letter can be used to express more than one sound. For example, the letter “a” can be pronounced like the “a” in “rate” or like the “a” in “rat.”

Furthermore, we can represent vowels by combining the five vowel letters in different ways. Sometimes we combine two vowels together to make a specific sound, such as “ai” and “au.” Other times, we combine a vowel with a consonant, such as “ah” and “an.”

Here are some examples of vowel sounds in English words. Notice how they’re different from the vowel letters themselves.

• Unit : the vowel sounds are created by “u” and “i”
• Chocolate : the vowel sounds are created by “o”, “o”, and “a.” The “e” at the end is silent
• Rainy : the vowel sounds are created by “ai” and “y”

Vowels are a crucial part of our language. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to speak or sing.

They’re also important for learning how to read and write English. Every beginner reader needs to learn vowels in order to sound out written words, since each syllable contains a vowel sound.

Let’s look more closely at the reasons why vowels are so important.

You Need Vowels to Cry, Laugh, and Sing

The human mouth is designed to include vowels in our speech sounds. We create vowel sounds even when we laugh or cry, regardless of the native language we speak.

We also need vowels to sing. Try singing a consonant sound like “k” or “t” or “b.”

You’ll quickly find that it’s impossible to sing a consonant without using a vowel. For example, you can sing the sound “kay” or the sound “tee,” but that’s because you’re singing the vowel sounds “ay” and “ee.” The consonants “k” and “t” only last for a moment.

If you pay attention to professional singers you’ll notice that they often draw out the vowel sounds, ending on consonants only at the very end. Unless you’re humming, you need to use vowels to sustain a sound for a long time.

Every Word and Syllable Needs a Vowel

Every syllable in the English language contains a vowel sound.

If you want to figure out how many syllables there are in a word, an easy method is to count the number of vowel sounds there are.

For example, say the word “tomato.” It has three syllables: to-ma-to. Here, the vowel sounds are “o,” “a,” and “o.”

Or say the word “counted.” It has two syllables: coun-ted. Here, the vowel sounds are “ou” and “e.”

You can have words and syllables without consonants, such as “I” or “oh”, but you can’t have a word without vowels. In a way, vowels are the heart of language—they’re the most basic component of the way we speak.

You Need Vowels to Create Assonance

Assonance is a literary device that involves the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words. This device creates rhythm and helps writing to flow in a more musical way.

For example, consider this famous line from William Blake’s “Tyger”: “Tyger, Tyger burning bright in the forest of the night.” Here, the long “i” sound is repeated over and over. You hear it in “tyger,” “bright,” and “night.”

Another example is from the movie My Fair Lady : “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.” Here, the long “a” sound is repeated over and over in “rain,” “Spain,” “stays,” “mainly,” and “plain.”

If you’re writing or reading poetry, you should pay attention to vowel sounds. You can make your poem more musical by using similar sounds in interesting patterns.

The word “vowel” originates from the Latin word “vox,” which means “voice.”

In contrast, the word “consonant” originates from the Latin words for “with sound”: con (“with”) and sonare (“to sound”).

There are two types of vowel sounds: long vowels and short vowels.

The names of vowels are long vowel sounds. Think of the way you pronounce the letters A, E, I, O, and U when you’re singing the alphabet song. These are long vowels.

Here are some examples of long vowels in words:

• The “e” in “lead”
• The “a” in “mail”
• The “o” in “pole”

Whenever a vowel isn’t pronounced the way its name sounds, that means it’s a short vowel sound.

Here are some examples of short vowels in words:

• The “e” in “led”
• The “a” in “ball”
• The “o” in “pop”

It’s important to understand the difference between long and short vowels when you’re reading so you can pronounce the words correctly.

Long vowel sounds are often created by ending the word with a silent “e.” For example, the “a” in “hate” is a long vowel, while the “a” in “hat” is not.

Other times, long vowel sounds can be created by placing two vowels next to each other. For example, the “e” in “beat” is a long vowel, while the “e” in “bet” is not.

When a vowel appears by itself, it’s often pronounced as a short vowel, though this isn’t always the case. Practicing reading and pronouncing various English words is the best way to gain an intuitive understanding of how to pronounce each vowel.

Every language has vowels, though some languages have more than others. For example, Japanese has only five vowel sounds, while Danish has 32.

Which words do you think have the strangest vowel pronunciations? Let us know in the comments.

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Understanding Vowels in English: A Comprehensive Guide to Sounds and Letters

Marcus Froland

March 28, 2024

Have you ever found yourself humming a tune, only to realize that the melody sticks because of certain sounds? That’s the magic of vowels . They are not just letters; they are the soul of every word we speak. But, what exactly makes a vowel a vowel? It’s a question that seems simple on the surface but has layers like an onion.

In English, vowels are the building blocks of language, giving shape and emotion to our communication. Without them, words would be like a guitar without strings – silent and lifeless. We’re about to peel back those layers, revealing how these essential elements play their role in language. But just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, there’s always another twist.

Vowels are sounds in the English language made by letting air flow freely through the mouth, without closing any part of the mouth or throat. There are five main letters that represent vowels: A, E, I, O, and U . Sometimes, ‘Y’ also acts as a vowel, depending on its use in a word.

In words like “sky” and “myth”, ‘Y’ serves as a vowel. Vowels can be categorized into two types: short vowels , as in “cat”, “pet”, “sit”, “hot”, and “cup”; and long vowels , which sound like their letter names, found in words such as “cake”, “meet”, “bike”, “note”, and “use”. Understanding vowels is crucial for mastering English pronunciation and spelling rules.

The Building Blocks of English Pronunciation: What Are Vowels?

Vowels are the fundamental elements that create the foundation for English pronunciation and the building blocks of language . Acting as a critical part of speech, vowels are characterized by their unobstructed, open sound production. This occurs when the mouth and tongue create unique positions in contrast to consonants, which are formed by restricting or obstructing airflow in various ways.

The basics of vowel definition consist of the letters a, e, i, o, u , and occasionally y . Their significance lies in how they contribute to a variety of speech sounds and limit the rigidity of language formation. Vowels are highly versatile in representing multiple sounds, forming words, and shaping syllables, which ultimately results in a cohesive and intelligible linguistic structure.

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein

The following table illustrates the different vowel sounds you might encounter in American English:

Grasping the essential elements of vowels and their inherent versatility is crucial for mastering a language. The nature of vowels, their sounds, depend heavily on their context. For example, when consonants and vowels combine, they create unique and varied speech sounds . Therefore, it is impossible to overstate the significance of vowels within English pronunciation , as they serve as indispensable building blocks for communication.

When learning proper English pronunciation , recognizing vowel sounds as dynamic linguistic constructs will only further expand your ability to communicate effectively.

The Role of Vowels in Language: Spelling and Grammar

Vowels critically influence the spelling of words, dictating the application of grammatical rules and consonant usage. Variations in spelling, such as the addition of a silent e or vowel combinations , lead to different pronunciations and meanings, as shown in the case of words like ‘hop’ versus ‘hope.’ These subtleties underscore their pivotal function in language structure, from the formulation of simple words to entire sentences.

The Importance of Vowels in Spelling

Vowels play a significant role in establishing the correct pronunciation of words and ensuring their coherence within the broader context of spoken and written language. To demonstrate the impact of vowels on spelling, consider the following examples:

• mate vs. mat
• pin vs. pine
• ripe vs. rip

In each instance, the vowel’s presence, position, or accompanying silent e results in variations in pronunciation and meaning, proving its integral contribution to language structure.

How Vowels Affect Grammar Rules

The placement and presence of vowels within words lay down the framework for specific grammar rules . Vowel behavior affects the application of doubling consonants and the conjugation of verbs, exemplified by the differentiation between ‘hopping’ and ‘hoping,’ where a silent ‘e’ alters the base word’s vowel sound. Understanding these vowel-centric grammar principles is vital for anyone immersed in learning or enhancing their grasp of English grammar .

The following table showcases how the presence of vowels affects grammar rules within English:

By mastering vowels in spelling and their impact on English grammar rules, learners and native speakers alike can elevate their language skills and overall fluency.

Pronunciation and Types of Vowels: From Short to Long

The mastery of vowel pronunciation is crucial for accurate speech and, in turn, correct spelling. To facilitate comprehension, vowels can be broadly grouped into short and long types.

• Short Vowels : Generally, single, unaccented vowels in shorter words fall into this category. Examples include ‘cat’ and ‘big,’ where the default pronunciation places emphasis on the vowel consonant.
• Long Vowels : This vowel type often arises from combined vowels, a particular vowel appearing twice in succession, or the presence of a silent ‘e’ at the end of a word. Examples include ‘cake,’ ‘seed,’ and ‘like.’

Consider the following examples to help recognize and differentiate between short and long vowels :

Being able to differentiate between short and long vowels is crucial to refining your verbal expression and ultimately supporting accurate spelling and speech. Make a conscious effort to practice and recognize these distinctions when speaking and writing in English, and you will find your language skills improving over time.

The Unique Case of “Y”: When Is It a Vowel?

The English language is abundant in vowels, yet the letter ‘Y’ stands out with its unique dual nature. Not only is it classified as a consonant, but ‘Y’ often plays the role of a vowel, adding complexity to the language, and sparking curiosity about its versatility. As you delve deeper into its distinguishing characteristics, you will uncover when and how ‘Y’ makes the shift from consonant to vowel in various contexts.

Consonant versus vowel : Before discussing the vowel role of ‘Y,’ it is crucial to understand the fundamental difference between consonants and vowels. Consonants are identified as speech sounds that impede the air’s flow through the vocal tract, whereas vowel sounds are created without any flow obstruction. This distinction is particularly important when examining the behavior of ‘Y’ in different linguistic situations.

Vowels are the unobstructed speech sounds, whereas consonants are the sounds created with some form of airflow blockage.

Y as a consonant: As a consonant, ‘Y’ usually appears before vowels and produces sounds at the back of the tongue. Examples include words like ‘yellow,’ ‘young,’ and ‘boy.’

Y as a vowel: In other instances, ‘Y’ takes on the role of a vowel replacing vowel sounds in some words. Words such as ‘my,’ ‘lady,’ and ‘cylinder’ exemplify when ‘Y’ functions as a vowel, mirroring the long ‘i’ sound or the long ‘e’ sound.

As you continue to enhance your language skills , being aware of this unique aspect of ‘Y’ will further develop your understanding of vowel usage in English. Take note of the various ways ‘Y’ can interact with other letters and speech sounds, and you’ll soon master its role as both a vowel and a consonant.

Special Vowel Combinations and Their Influence on English Pronunciation

English language has a variety of vowel combinations that play a significant role in pronunciation. These combinations not only diversify the sonic landscape of the language but also contribute to a better understanding of English phonetics and phonology . Two essential aspects of vowel combinations include diphthongs and silent vowels , which impact pronunciation in distinctive ways.

Understanding Vowel Diphthongs

Diphthongs are unique vowel combinations wherein two vowel sounds glide together within the same syllable. These combinations create harmonious and elegant pronunciations, enriching the language’s sonic variety. Some common diphthongs are:

• ai in “bait”
• ea in “eat”
• oi in “boil”
• ou in “house”
• ie in “pie”

These vowel combinations have a strong pronunciation influence as they modify the sound of individual vowels within a word. The table below illustrates some common diphthongs and their respective pronunciations:

Decoding Silent Vowels and Their Impact

Beyond diphthongs, some vowel combinations feature silent vowels . While not audibly pronounced, these combinations, such as the silent ‘e’ in “bake,” profoundly impact pronunciation. Silent vowels can lengthen the preceding vowel or modify a word’s structure, thus increasing the complexity of English words and pronunciation patterns.

Some examples of silent vowels in English words include:

• gate (silent ‘e’ lengthens ‘a’)
• hinge (silent ‘e’ modifies the word structure)
• knock (silent ‘k’ before the vowel ‘n’)
• wrapping (silent ‘w’ before the vowel ‘r’)

By understanding the significance of vowel combinations such as diphthongs and silent vowels, learners can effectively decode vowels and grasp the underlying principles of English phonetics and phonology . This knowledge ultimately leads to better pronunciation and a more nuanced appreciation of the language.

Exploring Vowel Usage in Different Contexts

Vowels are incredibly versatile, adapting to various linguistic contexts and enabling rich, expressive forms of written and spoken English. By understanding the impact of vowel usage in different contexts, you can strengthen your language skills and develop a greater appreciation for the harmonious potential of the English language.

An essential aspect of vowel usage lies within assonance, a poetic device utilized to establish rhythm and improve the musicality of written content. In this technique, vowels are repeated within words and phrases, creating a sense of cohesion and harmony. Here’s an example:

“Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day ; Rage, rage against the dying of the light” – Dylan Thomas

Besides assonance, vowel usage is employed in everyday communication. Differences in vowel pronunciation and context variations are reflected in various dialects and accents throughout the United States:

• Southern American English : Characterized by the use of diphthongs and elongated vowel sounds;
• Midwestern American English : Identified by distinct shifts in vowel sounds making “cat” and “cot” sound similar;
• New York City English : Recognized by vowel raising in words like “coffee” and “dog.”;

Recognizing how vowel usage contributes to regional accents can enhance your language skills and give you valuable tools for deciphering spoken English in various settings.

Different vowel patterns also emerge in word formation, where they combine with other vowels or consonants to establish specific meanings and sounds. By examining the following common contexts, you can efficiently decode and utilize vowel usage:

• Word endings: Contrasting between plural forms such as “bats” and “bottles” or the use of past tense in “walked” versus “allowed”;
• Vowel combinations: Identifying and understanding diphthongs, such as “ea” in “meal” or “ou” in “house”;
• Altering word meaning: Distinguishing between homophones like “red” (color) and “read” (past tense of the verb to read).

As you delve into various linguistic contexts and analyze vowel patterns, you can refine your overall language skills and deepen your appreciation for the expressive potential of English.

Vowel Sounds Across Languages: A Comparison

While vowels are a universal component of languages worldwide, they display a diverse range of phonetics and phonology that add complexity to language systems. As you delve deeper into understanding vowels , it is important to recognize how vowel sounds vary significantly across languages. Comparing vowels across different languages can enrich your knowledge of language structures, uncovering the fascinating nuances that exist globally.

English, for example, boasts at least 14 distinct vowel sounds. This rich variety stands in contrast to a language like Japanese, which uses merely five, or in the case of Danish, where a staggering 32 unique vowel sounds can be found. The striking differences in the number and nature of vowel sounds among languages result in contrasting linguistic audio landscapes that shape the way these languages are spoken and perceived.

By comparing vowel sounds in varying languages, you can gain a broader perspective on their inherent complexities and subtleties. This linguistic exploration enables an appreciation for the rich tapestry of sounds that exist in the world’s languages. As a result, you can further refine your language skills and draw connections between seemingly disparate languages – enhancing your overall understanding of the art of communication.

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Vowel Sounds and Letters in English

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Written English has a 26-letter alphabet. Of these 26 letters, 20 are proper consonants and five are proper vowels. One, the letter y , can be considered either a consonant or vowel depending on usage. The proper vowels are a , e , i , o , and u . Coming from the Latin word for "voice" ( vox ), vowels are created by the free passage of breath through the larynx and mouth. When the mouth is obstructed during speech production—most often by the tongue or teeth—the resulting sound is a consonant.

Short and Long Vowel Pronunciation

• Short pronunciation: "My hat sat on the mat." (hăt, săt, măt)
• Long Pronunciation: "He ate the date on my plate." (āte, dāte, plāte)
• Short pronunciation: "She let her pet get wet." (lĕt, pĕt, gĕt, wĕt)
• Long Pronunciation: "His feet beat a neat retreat." (fēet, bēat, nēat, rētrēat)
• Short pronunciation: "Spit out that pit and I quit!" (spĭt, pĭt, quĭt)
• Long Pronunciation: "The site of the bite from the mite was red." (sīte, bīte, mīte.)
• Short pronunciation: "That spot on the pot's got rot." (spŏt, pŏt, gŏt, rŏt)
• Long Pronunciation: "I wrote the quote on the note." (wrōte, quōte, nōte)
• Short pronunciation: "He cut the nut with a knife from his hut." (nut, cut, hut)
• Long Pronunciation: "The mute on his lute was acute." (lūte, mūte, acūte)

Long and Short Vowels

In the English language, each vowel can be pronounced many ways but the two most common variations are long and short . These pronunciations are often denoted by typographical signs: a curved symbol above a vowel represents short pronunciation: ă, ĕ, ĭ, ŏ, ŭ. Long pronunciation is indicated with a horizontal line above the vowel: ā, ē, ī, ō, ū .

Vowels that have long pronunciations are most often modified by a secondary vowel that's generally silent. In words such as "late" and "tune", the e is added to modify the main vowel sound and make it long; in words such as "goat" and "beat", the modifying vowel is the a; and in words such as "night," "knight," "flight," and "right," the long vowel i is modified by the gh.

Rulebreakers

While long and short are the most common vowel pronunciations, many words with vowel combinations do not follow these rules. For example, doubling the o in the word "moon" produces a long u ( ū ) sound and the y in "duty" not only modifies the u to an "ew" sound but is pronounced as its own syllable with a long e ( ē ) sound. Words that must be pronounced on a case-by-case basis because they seemingly don't follow any rules—such as "aardvark," "height," and "diet"—can be confusing for those first learning English.

Vowels and Pronunciation

Vowels comprise the principal sounds of syllables and form a major category of phonemes, the distinct sets of sounds that allow listeners to distinguish one word from another in speech. Standard spoken English has approximately 14 distinct vowel sounds and regional dialectal variations account for even more.  

How a vowel is pronounced in English depends very much on who is pronouncing it and where they are from. There is an uncountable number of distinct dialects worldwide and these all pronounce vowels differently—these are uncountable because the definition of a dialect is somewhat loose.   Linguists disagree on the exact number of English language dialects but some place it at upwards of 23 (not including slang, pidgins, creoles, or subdialects).   Some dialects have more vowel distinctions than others.

For example, Standard American English has fewer vowel distinctions than Standard Southern British English , so while a Londoner from Mayfair would likely pronounce the words "merry," "marry," and "Mary" in three clearly different ways, these three words sound pretty much the same to the majority of Americans.

Using Phonetics to Pronounce Vowels Correctly

As challenging as it may be to learn every correct vowel pronunciation with so many rules and exceptions, there is actually a fairly easy-to-learn system that can help: phonetics . Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that deals with how speech is produced and offers a set of written symbols that represents each base unit of sound in a language.

Learning phonetics is an extra step in correctly pronouncing words, but the results will be well worth the effort. Phonetics has many applications. In fact, most teachers use phonetics when their students are learning to read and write and actors often use phonetics to break words down into component sounds when they are required to speak in a dialect or accent other than their native voice.

Yoshida, Marla. "The Vowels of American English." University of California.

Wolfram, Walt, and Natalie Schillings-Estes. American English: Dialects and Variation , Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1998.

Boeree, Cornelis George. "Dialects of English . " 2004.

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Definition of vowel noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• vowel sounds
• Each language has a different vowel system.
• This neutral vowel is known as ‘schwa’.

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Understanding Vowels and Consonants (Examples, Definitions, Quiz)

What are vowels and consonants? Since time immemorial, an aspect that relates to vowels and consonants has been acknowledged. There exist dual complementary classes of sounds of speech. These are, broadly, consonants and vowels. While writing or speaking, in principle , certain letters represent consonants and the sounds they make. Others similarly represent vowels. Vowels and consonants have similar relevance and space in writing and speech in the English language.

What are vowels?

The simplest definition of a vowel is that it is a sound of speech, syllabic in nature. The sound of any given vowel is pronounced or made without any constriction of the vocal cords while speaking. Vowels may range in loudness and quality.

Vowels comprise one of the two main categories of sounds of speech, the other being consonants. When voicing vowels, close attention is paid to the variations of stress, tonality, and intonation. The written symbols, in terms of representation by letters of the alphabet, are a , e , i , o , u , and at times, y.

What are consonants?

While on the subject of vowels and consonants, both parts of phonetics and articulation, it is important to define the consonant.

A consonant is a sound of speech that is typically articulated with partial or complete closure with regard to the vocal tract. Consequently, all the letters that consonants represent in the alphabet are the ones that are not represented by vowels.

For instance, “p” and “b” are consonants. The lips are largely involved in their pronunciation. In a similar way, “t” and “d” are said using the frontal part of the tongue.

The sounds of speech

The concepts behind vowels and consonants are important as the number of sounds of speech in English exceeds the number of letters in the alphabet.

This is, in fact, true for many of the world’s languages. In terms of phonetics, vowels and consonants, and their intonations and modalities matter. This is why the IPA, or the International Phonetic Alphabet, exists.

Here, a system to assign an uncomplicated and unique symbol to each vowel and consonant has been devised.

Examples of vowels in words

In the English language, there are several possible vowel sounds, represented by the letters a, e, i, o, u, and y sometimes. There may be as many as 20 sounds of vowels, but in English, only 12 are used extensively. Some examples of vowels in words are below:

• Vowel sound “a” – H a m, a bout, a lso, l a rge, etc.
• Vowel sound “e” – E dge, b e , e agle (with “a”), etc.
• Vowel sound “i” – I n, i ce, a i sle (with “a”), etc.
• Vowel sound “o” – O n, o wl, w o rk, f o al, o ld, etc.
• Vowel sound “u” – U p, u se, etc.

Vowels and how they are pronounced depend on the letters appearing before and after them. It is also clear that some vowels, when used in combination with other vowels, produce a distinct intonation.

Is the letter “y” a consonant or a vowel?

In truth, the letter “y” is almost always used as a vowel. It may fall within the class of consonants, while you differentiate between vowels and consonants, but its purpose varies. Based on the position of the letter “y”, it represents both sounds of speech, that of a vowel or a consonant. For instance:

• “Y” is a vowel in these words – my, gym, story, bicycle, busy, system, etc.
• “Y” is used as a vowel in words that do not contain other vowels (gym). It is also used in words where “y” is at the word’s end (story). Yet other words use “y” as a vowel when the letter is between a syllable (system).

Examples of consonants in words

To reiterate, a consonant differs from a vowel by the fact that, while voicing a consonant, the breadth is completely or partially obstructed. Such is not the case with vowels. This is the main difference between vowels and consonants. Here are some examples of consonants in words:

• “k” – kite, rock, etc.
• “ch” – church, chat, etc.
• “b” – bulb, bat, blab, etc.
• “g” – girl, got , grasp, gem, etc.
• “p” – photo, pen, plasma, pot, etc.

Vowels – Key aspects

Note the primary takeaways when considering a vowel and its importance in the pronunciation of words:

• The sound of any vowel occurs when the flow of air through the mouth takes place freely, without restriction.
• The vowel sounds in English are represented by the letters a, e, i, o, and u.
• In words, a syllable is one part of the word which typically has a vowel sound.

Consonants – Key aspects

The following aspects should be noted while considering consonants for use and purpose in English:

• In simple terms, a consonant is a sound of speech, formed with the vocal tract partial or total closure.
• Consonants may be represented by letters in the alphabet and distinguished from vowels a, e, i, o, and u.
• Typically, vowels occur between two consonants to form a sound of speech in meaningful words.

The use of vowels and consonants may be complex to some and requires study before effective use. Nonetheless, while reading and writing, it is possible to grasp their understanding better. An important takeaway is that letters, when placed in combination with each other, can sound different and are used in various ways.

There are five vowels represented by the letters a, e, i, o, and u in the English alphabet. Sometimes the letter “y” is considered a vowel, according to its use and purpose.

2. What are the consonants in English, and do they have different sounds?

There are 5 vowels in the alphabet. A, E, I, O, and U.

There are 5 vowels in the alphabet and the rest of the 21 letters in the alphabet are considered consonants.

• Vowels and Consonants – English Medium Learn English with English Medium
• Consonants and Vowels | Pronunciation Guide | Collins Education (collinsdictionary.com)
• Consonantal vowels Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
• Consonants and vowels (Chapter 6) – Writing Systems (cambridge.org)

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• Present Simple Tense
• Present Perfect Tense
• Personal Pronoun
• Personification
• Persuasive Writing
• Parallel Structure
• Phrasal Verb
• Predicate Adjective
• Predicate Nominative
• Phonetic Language
• Plural Noun
• Punctuation
• Punctuation Marks
• Preposition
• Preposition of Place
• Parts of Speech
• Possessive Adjective
• Possessive Determiner
• Possessive Case
• Possessive Noun
• Proper Adjective
• Proper Noun
• Present Participle
• Quotation Marks
• Relative Pronoun
• Reflexive Pronoun
• Reciprocal Pronoun
• Subordinating Conjunction
• Simple Future Tense
• Stative Verb
• Subjunctive
• Subject Complement
• Subject of a Sentence
• Sentence Variety
• Second Conditional
• Superlative Adjective
• Slash Symbol
• Topic Sentence
• Types of Nouns
• Types of Sentences
• Uncountable Noun
• Vowels and Consonants

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Chapter 2: Producing Speech Sounds

The following tables give you some sample words so you can start to learn which IPA symbols correspond to which speech sounds. In these tables, the portion of the English word that makes the relevant sound is indicated in boldface type, but remember that English spelling is not always consistent, and your pronunciation of a word might be a little different from someone else’s. These examples are drawn from the pronunciation of mainstream Canadian English. To hear an audio-recording of the sound for each IPA symbol, consult the consonant, vowel, and diphthong charts available  here.

The sounds are categorized here according to how they’re produced. You’ll learn more about these categories in units  2.6 , 2.7 and 3.2 .

Approximants

Front vowels, back vowels, central vowels.

Essentials of Linguistics Copyright © 2018 by Catherine Anderson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Why Are A, E, I, O, U, And Y Called “Vowels”?

You might be able to recite the letters considered vowels in the English language: A , E , I , O , U , and sometimes Y . But what makes a vowel a vowel?

Vowels and consonants are two different categories of sounds that linguists (in the branch of linguistics called phonetics ) use to explain how speech sounds work.

In this article, we’ll explore the difference between consonants and vowels and explain why certain letters are considered vowels—and why some can fall into either category depending on which sound they make.

What is the difference between a vowel and a consonant ?

Consider the words beet and beat , which feature different spellings for the same sound ( homophones ). Then consider bat and bait . Their spellings are similar, but their vowel sounds are quite different.

To get around the limitations of written systems, linguists use what is known as the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), a set of symbols used to represent the sounds in all the world’s languages regardless of how they are written. Bat is [ bæt ] and bait is [ beɪt ], for instance.

According to  phoneticians , a vowel is a speech sound that is made without significant  constriction of the flow of air from the lungs. The tongue can be at various heights in the mouth (such as high, mid, or low) and at various positions (front, central, or back). The lips can be variously rounded. Vowels can vary in pitch and loudness, too.

Here’s the part where you get to act like kid. Say “ahh,” but then flick your tongue all around your mouth, wriggle your lips and jaws around, let out the noise at different volumes, but don’t ever fully stop that airflow. You are vowel -ing!

If you do restrict or close your airflow in a significant way, you’re in consonant territory. Where that restriction or closure occurs in your vocal tract determines what consonants you are making. B  sounds are produced by bringing the lips together, for instance ( bilabials ).   K  sounds are produced by bringing the back of the tongue up to your soft palate ( velars ). Th  sounds are made when the tongue goes between the teeth ( interdentals ).

Does every language have vowels?

Every language has vowels, but languages vary in the number of vowel sounds they use. While we learn A , E , I , O , U, and sometimes Y , English, depending on speaker and dialect, is generally considered to have at least 14 vowel sounds. (Yeah, our spelling is a delightful hot mess .) Castilian Spanish and Japanese, meanwhile, are generally considered to have five vowel sounds.

Languages also vary in the number of consonants they have. English has at least 24 consonant sounds. Hawaiian has around eight, and Lithuanian has 45—still low compared to some languages in southern Africa!

How vowels and consonants are distributed and patterned together in a language is called phonology .

Are there any words without vowels?

Slavic languages, such as Czech, are famous for the long strings of consonants their languages allow, like this Czech tongue twister : strč prst skrz krk  (“stick a finger down your throat”). This will twist English-speaking tongues (and heads), but it’s perfectly normal in Slavic languages, where a certain articulation of R can behave as a syllable all on its own.

This can be called a syllabic consonant, which can fill the vowel slot in a syllable . English can have them in the final syllables of words like bottle and button , among other places. To put it simply, L , R , M , N , and the – ng  in sing  can have vowel-like properties and be syllabic.

Now, English does have a number of interjections it spells without vowels (and vocalizes without true vowels) that are considered words, such as:  brrr , hmm , shh , tsk ,  pfft , or psst . Most of these are considered onomatopoeia , and imitate sounds we make to perform different actions, such as indicating we’re cold ( brr ) or demanding quiet ( shh ).

Generally, however, English words are said and written with at least one vowel.

• Shh … don’t tell anyone but there are actually an abundance of words that don’t use conventional vowels in English. In fact, some even use the letter W as a vowel.
• Nevertheless, there are basic spelling rules that English does (mostly) abide by. Read about them here and see if anything is new to you.

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Science of Teaching Reading Resource Guide

• Essential Components of Early Reading Success
• Defining Vocabulary Tiers
• Vocabulary Instructional Methods
• Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading
• The Five Language Domains
• The Reading Brain
• The Four-Part Processing Model for Word Recognition
• What are Print Concepts?
• Scarborough's Rope
• The Simple View of Reading
• Reading Profiles
• Structured Literacy
• Consonant Phonemes

Vowel Phonemes

• Six Layers of Phonemic Awareness
• Phonemes and Graphemes
• Principles for Teaching Multisyllabic Words
• Related Resource Handouts
• Additional Resources

Vowel phonemes are a class of speech sounds that are voiced and open—meaning, vowel sounds are produced with no obstruction of the airflow through the mouth. There are 15 vowel phonemes in English, plus r-controlled vowel combinations (i.e., /er/, /ar/, and /or/) and the schwa (/ǝ/). The schwa is an indistinct, unaccented vowel sound, often described as a muffled /ŭ/ or /ĭ/ sound. In the English language system, every spoken and written syllable includes a vowel sound.

English vowels can be distinguished by tongue position (front, middle, or back), tongue height (high, low), and lip shape (rounded and unrounded). The vowels in the image below are arranged by point of articulation.

Source: Moats, L. (2020) From Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers (p. 135) . Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

• Front: The first vowel represented on the chart, /ē/, is formed at the front of the mouth with the tongue high and the lips in an unrounded smile position. With pronunciation of the next five vowels in the sequence—/ǐ/, /ā/, /ĕ/, /ă/, and /ī/—the tongue drops and the mouth opens into a wider, more rounded position.
• Low, Middle: The vowel /ŏ/, as in fox, father, and palm, is pronounced with the tongue low and the lips open. The vowel /ǔ/, as in cup, cover, and flood, is similarly a low, middle vowel.
• Back, Rounded: The next five vowels in the sequence—/au/ or /aw/, /ō/, /oo/, /ū/, and /yū/ are rounded, back vowels pronounced from further back in the throat and the lips in a rounded shape.
• Diphthong: The diphthongs—/oi/ and /ou/—are single vowel phonemes that glide in the middle. Because the position of our mouth changes as we pronounce these vowels, they do not fit cleanly into the sequence outlined above. Try it! Say /ou/ as in wow slowly and notice how your mouth shifts from wide open to rounded. That’s the glide in action.
• r-Controlled: These vowel phonemes—/ir/, /er/, /ur/, /ar/, and /or/—are categorized independently because the the combination of a vowel sound followed by /r/ often changes the vowel sound and results in a single, indivisible phoneme.
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• Next: Six Layers of Phonemic Awareness >>
• Last Updated: Jul 26, 2023 3:42 PM
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