What Is IPA? The International English Phonetic Alphabet Explained

For anyone aiming to use English in a professional environment long-term, pronunciation is a crucial skill. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a powerful tool to help you master accurate pronunciation, just like native speakers.

Let’s explore what the IPA chart is and how to pronounce English words correctly using this international phonetic system.

The IPA chart, or International Phonetic Alphabet, is a global system of phonetic symbols that uses Latin characters to represent the sounds of spoken language.

In English, the way a word is pronounced often differs from its spelling. That is why checking the IPA transcription of a word helps you pronounce it accurately.

The IPA chart includes 44 English sounds, made up of 20 vowel sounds and 24 consonant sounds. In most English dictionaries, the phonetic transcription appears in brackets next to the word or below it.

Main categories in the IPA chart include:

• Vowels: Represent vowel sounds, such as /i/ in "see" or /ə/ in "sofa"

• Monophthongs: Simple vowel sounds with a steady pronunciation, like /æ/ in "cat" or /ʌ/ in "cup"

• Diphthongs: Double vowel sounds that glide from one vowel to another, such as /aɪ/ in "time" or /ɔɪ/ in "coin"

• Consonants: Represent consonant sounds, like /p/ in "pen," /t/ in "table," and /s/ in "sand"

o pronounce words accurately using IPA, it is essential to understand the difference between vowels and consonants and focus on the following aspects:

Vowel Sounds

Vowels are sounds produced without any blockage of airflow in the vocal tract.

• Monophthongs: The IPA chart includes 12 monophthongs, arranged in rows and columns for easier memorization.

• Diphthongs: These are combinations of two monophthongs. They involve movement in tongue or lip position during pronunciation.

Consonant Sounds

Consonants are sounds produced with some restriction of airflow by the lips, tongue, teeth, or other parts of the mouth. In speech, consonants must be paired with vowels to form words.

Using the Lips

• Rounded lips: /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/, /tʃ/

• Slightly open lips: /ɪ/, /ʊ/, /æ/

• Round lips with movement: /uː/, /əʊ/

Using the Tongue

• Tongue touches teeth: /f/, /v/

• Tongue curls and touches gums: /t/, /d/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/, /ŋ/, /l/

• Tongue curls up to hard palate: /ɜː/, /r/

• Raised tongue root: /ɔː/, /ɑː/, /uː/, /ʊ/, /k/, /g/, /ŋ/

• Tongue and teeth: /ð/, /θ/

Using the Vocal Cords

• Voiced sounds (vocal cords vibrate): /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /z/, /m/, /n/, /w/, /j/, /dʒ/, /ð/, /ʒ/

• Voiceless sounds (no vibration): /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /s/, /h/, /ʃ/, /θ/, /tʃ/

To improve your English pronunciation, make use of the IPA chart and practice regularly, especially if you study or work in an international environment. Here are some helpful resources:

• BBC Learning English – “Pronunciation in the News”: Learn British pronunciation through real news clips for practical listening and speaking.

• YouTube Tutorials – Search for “How to pronounce the 44 English IPA sounds” to learn how to position your lips, tongue, and jaw for accurate pronunciation.

• Pronunciation Apps – Try mobile apps like Elsa Speak or Cake to receive real-time feedback and practice English speaking naturally and fluently.

Master English Pronunciation with the IPA Chart

We hope this guide helps you understand the IPA chart and how to pronounce English words more accurately. Practice with friends or on your own using the phonetic alphabet and free IELTS materials available from IDP.

At IDP, you can choose to take the IELTS test on a computer. Once you’ve decided on your test format, check out IDP’s IELTS test locations and available test dates, with flexible schedules every week.

When you are ready, register for your IELTS test with IDP today.