Phonemic Chart

Phonemic Chart


This phonemic chart uses symbols from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). IPA symbols are useful for learning pronunciation. The symbols on this chart represent the 44 sounds used in British English speech (Received Pronunciation or RP, an educated accent associated with but not exclusive to south-east England).

Learners and teachers may want to print a copy of this phonemic chart to keep close at hand for reference.



Contractions

Pronunciation tips (including homophones)

This table covers "be", "have" and "will" only (not verbs like "should" and "can") because these are the verbs where homophones can help you understand and remember some of the contractions.

Only one pronunciation is given for each contraction, but there may be other pronunciations when unstressed or in other varieties of English.



verb long form contraction pronunciation (number of

syllables) homophones common confusions rhymes with

same pronunciation different pronunciation

be I am I'm
ime
(1) - aim dime

you are you're
yor
(1) your/yore jaw jaw/more/four

he is he's
heez
(1) - his/fees/heath fees/bees

she is she's
sheez
(1) - seas/sees seas/he's

it is it's
its
(1) its eats/ids bits/fits

we are we're
wier
(1) weir were/where pier/beer

they are they're
thear
(1) their/there dare pair/fair

are not aren't
arnt
(1) aunt ant/aunty shan't

is not isn't
izunt
(2) - - -

was not wasn't
wozunt
(2) - - -

were not weren't
wurnt
(1) - want/won't burnt/learnt

have I have I've
ive
(1) - ivy/if dive/five

you have you've
yoov
(1) - - move/prove

he has he's
heez
(1) - his/fees/heath fees/bees

she has she's
sheez
(1) - seas/sees seas/he's

it has it's
its
(1) its eats/ids bits/fits

we have we've
weev
(1) weave with peeve/believe

they have they've
theiv
(1) - dave dave/brave

I had I'd
ide
(1) eyed id cried/died

you had you'd
yood
(1) - jude (name) food/renewed

he had he'd
heed
(1) heed hid/head/feed feed/need

she had she'd
sheed
(1) - shed/seed seed/he'd

it had it'd
itud
(2) - - -

we had we'd
weed
(1) weed wed he'd/she'd

they had they'd
theid
(1) - - spade/paid

will I will I'll
ail
(1) aisle/isle ill while/pile

you will you'll
yuul
(1) yule you all/jewel tool

he will he'll
heel
(1) heel/heal feel/hell feel/peel

she will she'll
sheel
(1) - shell he'll/feel

it will it'll
itul
(2) - - -

we will we'll
weel
(1) wheel/weal well he'll/she'll

they will they'll
theil
(1) - dale dale/male

will not won't
woant
(1) - want don't

I would I'd
ide
(1) eyed id cried/died

you would you'd
yood
(1) - jude (name) food/renewed

he would he'd
heed
(1) heed hid/head/feed feed/need

she would she'd
sheed
(1) - shed/seed seed/he'd

it would it'd
itud
(2) - - -

we would we'd
weed
(1) weed wed he'd/she'd

they would they'd
theid
(1) - - spade/paid



Homophones List ~ Contractions

The following is a list of very common contractions with words that have a different spelling and meaning but exactly the same sound (homophones).

you're / your

it's / its

we're / weir

they're / their, there

aren't / aunt

we've / weave

I'd / eyed

he'd / heed

we'd / weed

I'll / isle

you'll / yule

he'll / heel, heal

we'll / wheel

here's / hears

there's / theirs

what's / watts

who's / whose

You should be particularly careful with the spelling of the words in bold. They are often misspelled - even by native English speakers!



Contractions

We often "contract" or shorten words in English. For example, we may say "he's" instead of "he is". Note that we usually insert an apostrophe (') in place of the missing letter or letters in writing. Here are some example sentences:

• I haven't seen him. (I have not seen him.)

• Who's calling? (Who is calling?)

• They're coming. (They are coming.)

We do this especially when we speak. We do not contract words so much in writing

These pages show the most common contracted forms.

• Positive Contractions

• Negative Contractions

• Other Contractions

• Informal Contractions

Contractions are very common in spoken English. They are not so common in written English. We may use contractions in a friendly letter, for example, but they are not usually correct in more formal texts such as business letters or essays. If you have to write an essay in an exam, do not use contractions. The only exception to this would be when you quote somebody within your essay, for example spoken dialogue