English Vocabulary in Use Elementary » Phonemic symbols
| Vowel sounds | |
| Symbol | Examples |
| /iː/ | sleep, me |
| /i/ | happy, recipe |
| /ɪ/ | pin, dinner |
| /ʊ/ | foot, could, pull |
| /uː/ | do, shoe, through |
| /e/ | red, head, said |
| /ə/ | arrive, father, colour |
| /ɜː/ | turn, bird, work |
| /ɔː/ | sort, thought, walk |
| /ae/ | cat, black |
| /ʌ/ | sun, enough, wonder |
| /ɒ/ | got, watch, sock |
| /ɑː/ | part, heart, laugh |
| /eɪ/ | name, late, aim |
| /aɪ/ | my, idea, time |
| /ɔɪ/ | boy, noise |
| /eə/ | pair, where, bear |
| /ɪə/ | hear, beer |
| /əʊ/ | go, home, show |
| /aʊ/ | out, cow |
| /ʊə/ | pure, fewer |
| Consonant sounds | |
| Symbol | Examples |
| /p/ | put |
| /b/ | book |
| /t/ | take |
| /d/ | dog |
| /k/ | car, kick |
| /g/ | go, guitar |
| /tʃ/ | catch, church |
| /dʒ/ | age, lounge |
| /f/ | for, cough, photograph |
| /v/ | love, vehicle |
| /θ/ | thick, path |
| /ð/ | this, mother |
| /s/ | since, rice |
| /z/ | zoo, houses |
| /ʃ/ | shop, sugar, machine |
| /ʒ/ | pleasure, usual, vision |
| /h/ | hear, hotel |
| /m/ | make |
| /n/ | name, now, know |
| /ŋ/ | bring |
| /l/ | look while |
| /r/ | road |
| /j/ | young |
| /w/ | wear |
ˈ This shows that the next syllable is the one with the stress.
ˈ This is used when some longer words have a second stress, less strong than on the main stressed syllable.
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The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for advanced level (C1 to C2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.