Pronunciation Sample Lesson
The /ɪ/ Sound
This is a short vowel sound seen in many common words. We should avoid confusion with the long /i:/ sound (me, cheese, please, etc). Here are some common words which contain the /ɪ/ sound:
- With
- If
- It
- Him
- Little
Phonetic symbol: /ɪ/
(glance over the examples to start familiarising yourself with phonetic transcriptions, the /ɪ/ is highlighted in red)
Sit on it for a bit = / ˈsɪt ˈɒn ˈɪt fər ə bɪt /
A little zippy zip = / ə ˈlɪtl̩ ˈzɪpi zɪp /
Dip a chip into it = / ˌdɪp ə tʃɪp ˈɪntə ˈɪt /
How to make this sound?
To make the /I/ sound the back of the tongue is high. The sound is produced further forward in the mouth. A little smile sometimes helps to find the correct placement. Use the picture as a guide, then listen to the example and repeat.
Once you are happy practise with the tracks in the audio library.
Listen to the /ɪ/ sound
Audio Library