Learning Materials
Features
Discover
Explore the power of vowels in English! Vowels are a type of speech sound that is produced with an open vocal tract, allowing air to flow freely without obstruction. In English, the vowels are the letters A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y. Consider vowels as the core building blocks of words that form the nucleus of syllables. They are essential for forming words, conveying meaning, and creating rhythm and melody in speech.
Millions of flashcards designed to help you ace your studies
Sign up for freeWhich vowel sound is there in the word cat?
Which vowel sound is there in the word boat?
Which vowel sound is there in the word judge?
What is the role of y in the word rhythm?
How many vowels are there in the English alphabet?
How many vowel sounds are there?
What type of vowel sound is /u:/?
What type of vowel sound is /ɪ/?
What type of vowel sound is /É”:/?
What type of vowel sound is /eÉ™/?
What part of a syllable is the vowel?
Which vowel sound is there in the word cat?
Which vowel sound is there in the word boat?
Which vowel sound is there in the word judge?
What is the role of y in the word rhythm?
How many vowels are there in the English alphabet?
How many vowel sounds are there?
What type of vowel sound is /u:/?
What type of vowel sound is /ɪ/?
What type of vowel sound is /É”:/?
What type of vowel sound is /eÉ™/?
What part of a syllable is the vowel?
Achieve better grades quicker with Premium
Geld-zurück-Garantie, wenn du durch die Prüfung fällst
Did you know that StudySmarter supports you beyond learning?
Review generated flashcards
Start learning or create your own AI flashcards
Team Vowels Teachers
A vowel is a speech sound that is produced when the air flows out through the mouth without being stopped by the vocal organs. Vowels are produced when there is nothing to obstruct the vocal cords.
A syllable is a part of a word containing one vowel sound, called the nucleus. It may or may not have consonant sounds before or after it. If the syllable has a consonant sound before it, this is called the 'onset'. If there is a consonant sound after it, this is called the 'coda'.
A word can have more than one syllable:
For example, the word robot /ˈrəʊbɒt/ has two syllables. A quick way to work out how many syllables a word has is to count the main vowels.
In the English language, we have five vowels. These are a, e, i, o and u.
Fig. 1 - There are five vowel letters in the English alphabet.
These are vowels as we know them in the alphabet, however there are many more vowel sounds than these. We'll look at them next.
There are 20 possible vowels sounds. Twelve of these are present in the English language. The 12 English vowel sounds are:
/ ɪ / as in if, sit, and wrist.
/ i: / as in be, read, and sheet.
/ ʊ / as in put, good, and should.
/ u: / as in you, food, and through.
/ e / as in pen, said, and when.
/ ə / as in about, polite, and teacher.
/ 3: / as in her, girl, and work.
/ ɔ: / as in also, four, and walk.
/ æ / as in ant, ham, and that.
/ ʌ / as in up, duck, and some.
/ ɑ: / as in ask, large, and start.
/ ɒ / as in of, not, and what.
Every vowel is pronounced according to three dimensions that distinguish them from each other:
Height, or closeness, refers to the vertical position of the tongue in the mouth, if it's high, mid, or low . For example, / ɑ: / as in arm, / ə / as in ago, and / u: / as in too.
Backness refers to the horizontal position of the tongue, if it's in the front, center, or back of the mouth. For example, / ɪ / as in any, / 3: / as in fur, and / ɒ / as in got.
Rounding refers to the position of the lips, if they are rounded or spread . For example, / ɔ: / as in saw, and / æ / as in hat.
Here are some other aspects that help to describe vowel sounds:
There are two types of vowels in English: Monophthongs and Diphthongs.
These vowels are called monophthongs because we don't pronounce them together but as three distinct sounds. A monophthong is a single vowel sound.
Unlike monophthongs, here there are two vowels joined together. We say that the word 'tie' contains one diphthong. A diphthong is two vowels together.
Here's another example: alone.
The first / ə / is separated from the other two vowel sounds by the consonant sound / l /. Yet, the two vowel sounds / ə, ʊ / are joined to make the diphthong / əʊ /.
In English, there are some words that contain triple vowels, called triphthongs, as in the word liar /ˈlaɪə /. A triphthong is a combination of three different vowels.
A vowel is a speech sound that is produced when the air flows out through the mouth without being stopped by the vocal organs.
A syllable is a single part of a word that contains one vowel sound, the nucleus, and two consonants, the onset and the coda.
Every vowel is pronounced according to: height, backness, and rounding.
There are two types of vowel in the English language: monophthong and diphthong.
Sign up for free to gain access to all our flashcards.
What is a vowel?
A vowel is a speech sound that is produced when the air flows out through the mouth without being stopped by the vocal organs.
What are vowel sounds and consonant sounds?
Vowels are speech sounds made when the mouth is open and the air can escape freely from the mouth. Consonants are speech sounds made when the airflow is blocked or restricted.
Which letters are vowels?
The letters a, e, i, o, u.
How many vowels are in the alphabet?
There are 5 vowels in the alphabet and they are a, e, i, o, u.
How many vowels sounds are there?
There are 12 vowel sounds and 8 diphthongs in the English language.
At StudySmarter, we have created a learning platform that serves millions of students. Meet the people who work hard to deliver fact based content as well as making sure it is verified.
Lily Hulatt is a Digital Content Specialist with over three years of experience in content strategy and curriculum design. She gained her PhD in English Literature from Durham University in 2022, taught in Durham University’s English Studies Department, and has contributed to a number of publications. Lily specialises in English Literature, English Language, History, and Philosophy.
Get to know Lily
Gabriel Freitas is an AI Engineer with a solid experience in software development, machine learning algorithms, and generative AI, including large language models’ (LLMs) applications. Graduated in Electrical Engineering at the University of São Paulo, he is currently pursuing an MSc in Computer Engineering at the University of Campinas, specializing in machine learning topics. Gabriel has a strong background in software engineering and has worked on projects involving computer vision, embedded AI, and LLM applications.
Get to know Gabriel
Vaia is a globally recognized educational technology company, offering a holistic learning platform designed for students of all ages and educational levels. Our platform provides learning support for a wide range of subjects, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Languages and also helps students to successfully master various tests and exams worldwide, such as GCSE, A Level, SAT, ACT, Abitur, and more. We offer an extensive library of learning materials, including interactive flashcards, comprehensive textbook solutions, and detailed explanations. The cutting-edge technology and tools we provide help students create their own learning materials. StudySmarter’s content is not only expert-verified but also regularly updated to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Learn moreSave explanations to your personalised space and access them anytime, anywhere!
Sign up with Email Sign up with AppleBy signing up, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy of Vaia.
Already have an account? Log in
Sign up to highlight and take notes. It’s 100% free.
Explanations 
Textbooks 
Exams 
GCSE 
IGCSE 
AS 
A Level 
International A Level 
University Admissions Tests 
Flashcards 
Vaia AI 
Notes 
Study Plans 
Study Sets 
Find a job 
Find a degree 
Student Deals 
Magazine 
Mobile App 
