IPA Vowels & Classification Study Guide

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering IPA vowel symbols, classifications, stress rules, and relevant speech science concepts.

/i/

Tense, unrounded vowel; pronounced 'ee' as in keep.

/ɪ/

Lax, unrounded vowel; pronounced 'ih' as in hit.

/e/

Tense, unrounded vowel; pronounced 'ay' as in make.

/ɛ/

Lax, unrounded vowel; pronounced 'eh' as in bed.

/æ/

Lax, unrounded vowel; pronounced 'ah' as in mat.

/u/

Tense, rounded vowel; pronounced 'oo' as in boot.

/ʊ/

Lax, rounded vowel; pronounced 'uh' as in look.

/o/

Tense, rounded vowel; pronounced 'oh' as in oak.

/ɔ/

Tense, rounded vowel; pronounced 'aw' as in claw.

/ɑ/

Tense, unrounded vowel; pronounced 'ah' as in father.

/ə/

Schwa; unstressed, lax, unrounded vowel, pronounced 'uh'.

/ʌ/

Stressed, lax, unrounded vowel; pronounced 'uh' as in butter.

/ɚ/

Unstressed vowel; pronounced 'er' as in upper.

/ɝ/

Stressed vowel; pronounced 'er' as in earth.

/aɪ/

Diphthong; pronounced as in night.

/ɔɪ/

Diphthong; pronounced as in boy.

/aʊ/

Diphthong; pronounced as in cow.

/ɪr/

R-controlled vowel; pronounced as in ear (hear).

/ɛr/

R-controlled vowel; pronounced as in air (hair).

/ɔr/

R-controlled vowel; pronounced as in or (corn).

/ɑr/

R-controlled vowel; pronounced as in ar (car).

Vowel Quadrilateral

Represents tongue height (high-low) and advancement (front-back). Does NOT show lip rounding and tenseness.

Vowel Classification Features

1. Tongue height 2. Tongue advancement 3. Lip rounding 4. Tense vs lax.

Tense Vowels

Longer, louder, requiring more muscular effort; often stressed/open syllables.

Lax Vowels

Shorter, requiring less effort; often unstressed/closed syllables.

Schwa /ə/

Used in unstressed syllables, e.g., color → /ʌ/ + /ə/.

Airflow

Powers vocal fold vibration, not muscle.

Bernoulli Effect

Physics principle that pulls vocal folds together.

Vocal Folds Vibration Rate

Vocal folds vibrate approximately 220 times per second.