IPA vowels

front vowel /i/

"e sound" like peace
TENSE
tongue is High-Front
lips unrounded
jaw is close/elevated

example of /i/ sound

we, beak, machine, & ceiling

front vowel /I/

"eh sound" like hit
LAX
tongue is High-Front
lips unrounded
jaw is closed, mid open

example of /I/ sound

sit, drink, rich, basic & cricket

front vowel /e/

"a sound" like mandate
TENSE
tongue is high mid w/ high front off glide
lips unrounded
jaw is mid

example of /e/ sound

lay, eight, daybreak & decade

front vowel /ɛ/ - epsilon

"eh sound" like led
LAX
tongue is low mid, front
lips unrounded
jaw is mid

example of /ɛ/ sound

bet, cent, debt, & marry

front vowel /æ/ - ash

"ah sound" like mat
LAX
tongue is low/front
lips unrounded
jaw is open

example of /æ/

ash, cash, mat, & laugh

back vowel /u/

"oo sound" as in clue
TENSE
tongue is high/back
lips are rounded
jaw is close

example of /u/ sound

true, group, few & accuse

back vowel /ʊ/ - upsilon

uh sound as in "look"
LAX
tongue is high
jaw closed
lips are unrounded

example of /ʊ/ sound

put, could, cookie, & woman

back sound /o/

"oh sound" like obese
TENSE
tongue is high-mid/back
lips are rounded
jaw is mid close

example of /o/ sound

know, coal & open

back vowel /Ɔ/ - open o

aw sound like in "dawn"
TENSE
tongue is low mid/back
lips are rounded
jaw is mid to close

example of /Ɔ/

prawn, coffee, haul & corn

back vowel /a/

aw like in "not"
TENSE
tongue is low/back
lips are unrounded
jaw is open

example of /a/ sound

bond, apart, latte, & problem

central vowel /ə/

uh like in "alone"
LAX
UNSTRESSED
tongue is mid central
lips are unrounded
jaw is mid

example of /ə/ - schwa

salami, tuna, command, & relevant

central vowel /ʌ/ - wedge

uh sound like in "but"
LAX
STRESSED
tongue is low mid/back central
lips are unrounded
jaw is open

example of /ʌ/ sound

rub, flood, bud, hunch, Monday & scrumptious

central vowel /ɚ/ - schwar

ir sound like in "perhaps"
LAX
UNSTRESSED
tongue is mid/central
lips are rounded
jaw is mid open

example of /ɚ/ sound

pertain, runner, luxury, Saturday, harbor, & under

central vowel /ɝ/ - right hook reverse epislon

er sound like in "heard"
TENSE
STRESSED
tongue is mid central
jaw is mid open
lips are rounded

example of /ɝ/

deter, third, Thursday, reverse, surgeon, & curse