The importance of vowels can be seen in the fact that words cannot be formed without the presence of one or more vowel sounds. Vowels can appear before a consonant, between consonants, or after a consonant. There are 7 short vowels in English phonetics. Mastering these vowel sounds is essential for clear and correct pronunciation. For students preparing for exams like WAEC, NECO, GCE, and JAMB, a strong understanding of vowel sounds can improve their performance. Similarly, for those taking the IELTS, correct pronunciation is crucial for achieving a high score in the speaking section.
This post will examine all seven short vowels in English, starting with the short vowel /ɪ/. First, I’ll describe the short vowels, including how they are produced, the mouth position, and any necessary details. I’ll also include a table featuring word patterns that contain the short vowel sounds for better understanding. Stay tuned!
The 7 Short Vowels in English Phonetics
Short Vowel /ɪ/
The short vowel /ɪ/ is a near-close, near-front, unrounded vowel. It is found in words like bit, sit, and chick.
How It Is Produced
- Tongue Position: The tongue is raised near the close position but not as high as /iː/ (the long “ee” sound in meet).
- Mouth Position: The mouth is slightly open, and the lips are relaxed and unrounded.
- Jaw Position: Slightly raised but more open than for /iː/.
Common Pronunciation Mistakes
- Some learners pronounce /ɪ/ as /iː/, making bit sound like beat.
- Avoid over-rounding the lips—/ɪ/ should be unrounded.
Examples of Words Containing /ɪ/
| Spelling Pattern | Examples | Phonetic Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| i | in, sin, bin, split, flip, still, chick, skit, blink | /ɪn/, /sɪn/, /bɪn/, /splɪt/, /flɪp/, /stɪl/, /ʧɪk/, /skɪt/, /blɪŋk/ |
| e | market, blanket, socket, evoke, electric, bucket, wicked, pocket, privilege | /ˈmɑːkɪt/, /ˈblæŋkɪt/, /ˈsɒkɪt/, /ɪˈvoʊk/, /ɪˈlɛktrɪk/, /ˈbʌkɪt/, /ˈwɪkɪd/, /ˈpɒkɪt/, /ˈprɪvɪlɪʤ/ |
| ia | carriage, marriage | /ˈkærɪʤ/, /ˈmærɪʤ/ |
| ie | sieve, married, mischief, ladies | /sɪv/, /ˈmærɪd/, /ˈmɪsʧɪf/, /ˈleɪdɪz/ |
| a | sausage, village, baggage, surface, luggage | /ˈsɔːsɪʤ/, /ˈvɪlɪʤ/, /ˈbæɡɪʤ/, /ˈsɜːfɪs/, /ˈlʌɡɪʤ/ |
| ey | donkey, money | /ˈdʌŋkɪ/, /ˈmʌnɪ/ |
| o | women | /ˈwɪmɪn/ |
| u | busy, business, minute | /ˈbɪzɪ/, /ˈbɪznɪs/, /ˈmɪnɪt/ |
| ai | mountain, captain, bargain, fountain | /ˈmaʊntɪn/, /ˈkæptɪn/, /ˈbɑːɡɪn/, /ˈfaʊntɪn/ |
| ei | foreign | /ˈfɒrɪn/ |
| y | symbol, syntax, syncopation | /ˈsɪmbəl/, /ˈsɪntæks/, /ˌsɪŋkəˈpeɪʃən/ |
| ee | coffee, toffee | /ˈkɒfɪ/, /ˈtɒfɪ/ |
| ui | guitar, build, guilt, biscuit | /ɡɪˈtɑːr/, /bɪld/, /ɡɪlt/, /ˈbɪskɪt/ |
Short Vowel /e/
The short vowel /e/ is one of the seven short vowels in English phonetics. It is a mid-front unrounded vowel, meaning the tongue is positioned in the middle of the mouth but slightly towards the front, and the lips remain relaxed (neither rounded nor spread).
How to Produce the Short Vowel /e/
- Tongue Position:
- The tongue is in a mid-front position (closer to the front of the mouth but lower than /i/).
- The front part of the tongue is raised slightly toward the hard palate.
- Lip Position:
- Lips are relaxed and slightly spread, not rounded.
- Jaw Position:
- The jaw is partially open, allowing some airflow.
- Duration:
- It is a short vowel, meaning it is pronounced quickly without elongation.
- Voicing:
- The vocal cords vibrate as the sound is produced, making it a voiced vowel.
Examples of Words Containing /e/
| Spelling Pattern | Examples | Phonetic Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| e | fend, tent, egg, belt, net, red | /fend/, /tent/, /eɡ/, /belt/, /net/, /red/ |
| ea | bread, heaven, meadow, heavy, breath, dead, weapon, head | /bred/, /ˈhevən/, /ˈmedoʊ/, /ˈhevɪ/, /breθ/, /ded/, /ˈwepən/, /hed/ |
| ei | leisure, Leicester | /ˈleʒə/, /ˈlestər/ |
| ue | guess, guest, quest, request | /ɡes/, /ɡest/, /kwest/, /rɪˈkwest/ |
| eo | leopard, Geoffrey, jeopardy | /ˈlepəd/, /ˈʤefrɪ/, /ˈʤepədi/ |
| ie | friend, lieutenant | /frend/, /luːˈtenənt/ or /lefˈtenənt/ (British English) |
| u | bury | /ˈberɪ/ |
| ay | says | /sez/ |
| ai | said | /sed/ |
| a | any, many, Thames | /ˈeni/, /ˈmeni/, /temz/ |
Short Vowel /æ/
The short vowel /æ/ is a near-open front unrounded vowel in English. It is commonly found in words like cat, man, and black. Below is a detailed explanation of how it is produced:
1. Tongue Position
- The tongue is positioned low and toward the front of the mouth, but not as forward as /e/.
- It is more open than /e/ (as in bed), but slightly more closed than /a/.
2. Lip Position
- The lips are neutral or slightly spread (not rounded).
3. Jaw Position
- The jaw is relatively low, making the mouth more open compared to vowels like /ɪ/ or /e/.
4. Length and Tension
- It is a short vowel, meaning it is produced quickly and without additional tension.
How to Pronounce /æ/
- Open your mouth wide and drop your jaw slightly.
- Keep tongue low and pushed slightly forward in the mouth.
- Keep your lips neutral or slightly spread, without rounding them.
- Make a short, relaxed sound, similar to when you say “aaah” for a doctor
Examples of Words Containing /æ/
| Spelling Pattern | Examples | Phonetic Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| a | cat, flag, man, splash, act, flat | /kæt/, /flæɡ/, /mæn/, /splæʃ/, /ækt/, /flæt/ |
| ai | plait, plaid | /plæt/, /plæd/ |
| ac | sack, back, lack, black, track | /sæk/, /bæk/, /læk/, /blæk/, /træk/ |
Short Vowel /ɒ/
The short vowel /ɒ/ is a low back rounded vowel in English. It is commonly heard in British English but not in most American English dialects. It appears in words like pot, dog, and off.
How to Produce the Short Vowel
1. Tongue Position
- The tongue is placed low and toward the back of the mouth.
- It is positioned lower than /ɔ:/ (as in law).
2. Lip Position
- The lips are rounded, but not as much as for /ɔ:/.
3. Jaw Position
- The jaw is open, allowing more airflow compared to vowels like /ʊ/ or /ʌ/.
4. Length and Tension
- It is a short vowel, meaning it is produced quickly and with no extra tension.
How to Produce the Short Vowel /ɒ/
How to Pronounce /ɒ/
- Open your mouth wide, with your tongue low and pulled toward the back.
- Round your lips slightly, but not as much as for /ɔ:/.
- Make a short, relaxed sound, similar to how “o” is pronounced in British hot.
Examples of Words Containing /ɒ/
| Spelling Pattern | Examples | Phonetic Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| o | pot, lot, dog, plot, off, top, cloth | /pɒt/, /lɒt/, /dɒɡ/, /plɒt/, /ɒf/, /tɒp/, /klɒθ/ |
| ow | knowledge | /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ |
| ou | trough, cough | /trɒf/, /kɒf/ |
| a after /w/ or /j/ | was, what, yacht, want | /wɒz/, /wɒt/, /jɒt/, /wɒnt/ |
| ua | quantity, quality | /ˈkwɒntɪti/, /ˈkwɒlɪti/ |
| au | laurel, sausage, Australia, because | /ˈlɒrəl/, /ˈsɒsɪdʒ/, /ɒˈstreɪlɪə/ or /ɔːˈstreɪlɪə/, /bɪˈkɒz/ |
Short Vowel /ʊ/
The short vowel /ʊ/ is a near-close, near-back rounded vowel in English. It is heard in words like book, look, and pull. It differs from the long vowel /u:/ (as in food or blue).
How to Produce the Short Vowel
1. Tongue Position
- The tongue is placed high in the mouth but not as high as for /u:/.
- It is positioned toward the back of the mouth.
2. Lip Position
- The lips are rounded, but not as tightly as for /u:/.
3. Jaw Position
- The jaw is slightly open but not as much as for vowels like /ɒ/ or /æ/.
4. Length and Tension
- It is a short vowel, meaning it is produced quickly and with no extra tension.
- It is lax, while /u:/ is tense.
How to Pronounce /ʊ/
- Raise the back of your tongue toward the roof of your mouth.
- Round your lips slightly, but not as much as for /u:/.
- Make a short and relaxed sound, as in book or look.
Examples of Words Containing /ʊ/
| Spelling Pattern | Examples | Phonetic Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| u | put, push, pull, full, bull, bush | /pʊt/, /pʊʃ/, /pʊl/, /fʊl/, /bʊl/, /bʊʃ/ |
| oo | book, look, took, foot, good | /bʊk/, /lʊk/, /tʊk/, /fʊt/, /ɡʊd/ |
| oul | could, would, should | /kʊd/, /wʊd/, /ʃʊd/ |
| o | woman, wolf | /ˈwʊmən/, /wʊlf/ |
Short Vowel /ʌ/
The short vowel /ʌ/ is a mid-open, central, unrounded vowel in English. It is commonly heard in words like cup, bus, and luck.
1. Tongue Position
- The tongue is placed low-mid and central in the mouth.
- It is positioned higher than /ɑ:/ but lower than /ə/.
2. Lip Position
- The lips are relaxed and unrounded (neutral position).
3. Jaw Position
- The jaw is slightly open but not as much as for /æ/ or /ɒ/.
4. Length and Tension
- It is a short vowel, meaning it is produced quickly and with no extra tension.
- It is different from /ɑ:/ (as in father), which is a long vowel.
How to Pronounce /ʌ/
- Relax your lips—they should not be rounded.
- Lower the tongue slightly in the center of the mouth.
- Make a short, relaxed sound, like in cup or bus.
Examples of Words Containing /ʌ/
| Spelling Pattern | Examples | Phonetic Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| u | cup, bus, fun, run, sun, luck | /kʌp/, /bʌs/, /fʌn/, /rʌn/, /sʌn/, /lʌk/ |
| o | son, come, love, money, other, done | /sʌn/, /kʌm/, /lʌv/, /ˈmʌni/, /ˈʌðər/, /dʌn/ |
| ou | young, double, trouble, cousin | /jʌŋ/, /ˈdʌbəl/, /ˈtrʌbəl/, /ˈkʌzɪn/ |
| oo | blood, flood | /blʌd/, /flʌd/ |
Schwa Sound /ə/
The schwa /ə/ is the most common vowel sound in English. It is:
✔ Mid-central (tongue in the middle of the mouth)
✔ Unstressed (only appears in weak syllables)
✔ Short and relaxed (spoken quickly)
It is found in almost every English word and is often spelled with different vowels.
1. Tongue Position
- The tongue is mid-central in the mouth (not high or low).
2. Lip Position
- Lips are neutral (neither rounded nor spread).
3. Jaw Position
- The jaw is slightly open but relaxed.
4. Length and Stress
- Always unstressed (never found in stressed syllables).
- Short and weak (spoken quickly).
How to Pronounce /ə/
- Relax your tongue—keep it in the middle of your mouth.
- Do not stress the sound—it should be quick and weak.
- Say it like a short “uh” sound, as in sofa or banana.
Examples of Words Containing /ə/
| Spelling Pattern | Examples | Phonetic Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| a | about, ago, sofa | /əˈbaʊt/, /əˈɡəʊ/, /ˈsəʊ.fə/ |
| e | the, open, taken | /ðə/, /ˈəʊ.pən/, /ˈteɪ.kən/ |
| i | pencil, family, animal | /ˈpen.səl/, /ˈfæ.mə.li/, /ˈæ.nə.məl/ |
| o | lesson, lemon, melody | /ˈles.ən/, /ˈlem.ən/, /ˈmel.ə.di/ |
| u | support, focus, minus | /səˈpɔːt/, /ˈfəʊ.kəs/, /ˈmaɪ.nəs/ |
A careful study of the table above will greatly help you identify words that contain short vowel sounds. However, merely studying vowels is not enough to enhance your pronunciation. Language is a vocal action, which means it is meant to be spoken. Therefore, the best way to improve your pronunciation is through regular practice. Listen to native speakers, repeat each word, phrase, or sentence after them, and use text-to-speech tools to confirm the correct pronunciation if you’re unsure.
Good pronunciation is an essential skill, so keep practicing! However, we are not done with vowels yet. In my next post, we will explore long vowels, including diphthongs. Stay tuned, and feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments!
