An Encylopedia Britannica Company

Guide to IPA Symbols

Vowels
æ ask bat glad
ɑ: cot bomb caught paw
ɛ bet fed
ə about banana collide
i very any thirty
i: eat bead bee
ɪ id bid pit
ʊ foot should put
u: boot two coo
ʌ under putt bud
ɚ merge bird further
eight wade bay
ice bite tie
out gown plow
oyster coil boy
oat own zone blow
ɑɚ car heart bizarre
bare fair wear
near deer mere pier
boar port door shore
boor tour insure
ɒ British cot bomb
ɔ: British caught paw port
ə: British merge bird
əʊ British oat own zone blow
ɪə British near deer
ɛə British bare fair
ʊə British boor tour
Consonants
Other Symbols
' penmanship
ˌ penmanship
British indicates British pronunciation variant