🇬🇧 Standard British English (RP)
Learn English IPA: The 44 Phonemes
A comprehensive, authoritative visual masterclass covering all vowel and consonant sounds for accurate English pronunciation.
12
Monophthongs
Pure single vowel sounds
8
Diphthongs
Gliding double vowel sounds
24
Consonants
Voiced and voiceless sounds
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 01 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 01/44
/iː/
The /iː/ Sound
Long Close Front Unrounded
Key Chart Word: sheep
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
sheep
/ʃiːp/
Word 2
green
/ɡriːn/
Word 3
tea
/tiː/
💬
Context Sentence
"Please keep three green peas on the sheet."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 02 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 02/44
/ɪ/
The /ɪ/ Sound
Short Near-Close Near-Front
Key Chart Word: ship
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
ship
/ʃɪp/
Word 2
milk
/mɪlk/
Word 3
fish
/fɪʃ/
💬
Context Sentence
"The quick fish swims in the river."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 03 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 03/44
/ʊ/
The /ʊ/ Sound
Short Near-Close Near-Back Rounded
Key Chart Word: good
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
good
/ɡʊd/
Word 2
book
/bʊk/
Word 3
foot
/fʊt/
💬
Context Sentence
"He took a good look at the wooden book."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 04 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 04/44
/uː/
The /uː/ Sound
Long Close Back Rounded
Key Chart Word: shoot
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
shoot
/ʃuːt/
Word 2
moon
/muːn/
Word 3
blue
/bluː/
💬
Context Sentence
"The blue moon shone through the room."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 05 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 05/44
/e/
The /e/ Sound
Short Open-Mid Front
Key Chart Word: bed
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
bed
/bed/
Word 2
ten
/ten/
Word 3
pen
/pen/
💬
Context Sentence
"Ten red pens were left on the desk."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 06 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 06/44
/ə/
The /ə/ Sound
Central Unrounded (Schwa)
Key Chart Word: teacher
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
teacher
/ˈtiː.tʃə/
Word 2
banana
/bəˈnɑː.nə/
Word 3
doctor
/ˈdɒk.tə/
💬
Context Sentence
"A clever doctor gave a banana to the actor."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 07 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 07/44
/ɜː/
The /ɜː/ Sound
Long Open-Mid Central
Key Chart Word: bird
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
bird
/bɜːd/
Word 2
learn
/lɜːn/
Word 3
first
/fɜːst/
💬
Context Sentence
"The early bird heard the girl sing first."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 08 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 08/44
/ɔː/
The /ɔː/ Sound
Long Open-Mid Back Rounded
Key Chart Word: door
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
door
/dɔː/
Word 2
horse
/hɔːs/
Word 3
call
/kɔːl/
💬
Context Sentence
"Paul saw four horses walking towards the door."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 09 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 09/44
/æ/
The /æ/ Sound
Short Open Front
Key Chart Word: cat
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
cat
/kæt/
Word 2
black
/blæk/
Word 3
bag
/bæɡ/
💬
Context Sentence
"The fat cat sat on the black mat."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 10 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 10/44
/ʌ/
The /ʌ/ Sound
Short Open-Mid Back Unrounded
Key Chart Word: up
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
up
/ʌp/
Word 2
cup
/kʌp/
Word 3
sun
/sʌn/
💬
Context Sentence
"Run under the sun and have some fun."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 11 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 11/44
/ɑː/
The /ɑː/ Sound
Long Open Back Unrounded
Key Chart Word: far
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
far
/fɑː/
Word 2
car
/kɑː/
Word 3
park
/pɑːk/
💬
Context Sentence
"We parked the dark car in the large garden."
Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Sound 12 of 12
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 12/44
/ɒ/
The /ɒ/ Sound
Short Open Back Rounded
Key Chart Word: on
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
on
/ɒn/
Word 2
hot
/hɒt/
Word 3
clock
/klɒk/
💬
Context Sentence
"Tom put the hot coffee cup on the box."
Diphthongs (Gliding Vowels)
Sound 01 of 08
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 13/44
/ɪə/
The /ɪə/ Sound
Centring Diphthong
Key Chart Word: here
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
here
/hɪə/
Word 2
dear
/dɪə/
Word 3
clear
/klɪə/
💬
Context Sentence
"Come near so I can hear you clearly."
Diphthongs (Gliding Vowels)
Sound 02 of 08
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 14/44
/eɪ/
The /eɪ/ Sound
Closing Diphthong to /ɪ/
Key Chart Word: wait
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
wait
/weɪt/
Word 2
day
/deɪ/
Word 3
rain
/reɪn/
💬
Context Sentence
"They came on a rainy day to paint the gate."
Diphthongs (Gliding Vowels)
Sound 03 of 08
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 15/44
/ʊə/
The /ʊə/ Sound
Centring Diphthong
Key Chart Word: tourist
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
tourist
/ˈtʊə.rɪst/
Word 2
pure
/pjʊə/
Word 3
cure
/kjʊə/
💬
Context Sentence
"The tourist sought a pure cure on his tour."
Diphthongs (Gliding Vowels)
Sound 04 of 08
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 16/44
/ɔɪ/
The /ɔɪ/ Sound
Closing Diphthong to /ɪ/
Key Chart Word: boy
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
boy
/bɔɪ/
Word 2
coin
/kɔɪn/
Word 3
voice
/vɔɪs/
💬
Context Sentence
"The boy smiled at the sound of her joyful voice."
Diphthongs (Gliding Vowels)
Sound 05 of 08
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 17/44
/əʊ/
The /əʊ/ Sound
Closing Diphthong to /ʊ/
Key Chart Word: show
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
show
/ʃəʊ/
Word 2
go
/ɡəʊ/
Word 3
home
/həʊm/
💬
Context Sentence
"We hope to go home through the cold snow."
Diphthongs (Gliding Vowels)
Sound 06 of 08
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 18/44
/eə/
The /eə/ Sound
Centring Diphthong
Key Chart Word: hair
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
hair
/heə/
Word 2
chair
/tʃeə/
Word 3
care
/keə/
💬
Context Sentence
"Take care of your hair while sitting on the chair."
Diphthongs (Gliding Vowels)
Sound 07 of 08
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 19/44
/aɪ/
The /aɪ/ Sound
Closing Diphthong to /ɪ/
Key Chart Word: my
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
my
/maɪ/
Word 2
night
/naɪt/
Word 3
sky
/skaɪ/
💬
Context Sentence
"Five bright lights shine in the night sky."
Diphthongs (Gliding Vowels)
Sound 08 of 08
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 20/44
/aʊ/
The /aʊ/ Sound
Closing Diphthong to /ʊ/
Key Chart Word: cow
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
cow
/kaʊ/
Word 2
now
/naʊ/
Word 3
house
/haʊs/
💬
Context Sentence
"How did a brown mouse get around the house now?"
Consonants
Sound 01 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 21/44
/p/
The /p/ Sound
Voiceless Bilabial Plosive
Key Chart Word: pea
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
pea
/piː/
Word 2
pen
/pen/
Word 3
cup
/kʌp/
💬
Context Sentence
"Peter put a pink pen on the paper."
Consonants
Sound 02 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 22/44
/b/
The /b/ Sound
Voiced Bilabial Plosive
Key Chart Word: boat
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
boat
/bəʊt/
Word 2
book
/bʊk/
Word 3
web
/web/
💬
Context Sentence
"Bob bought a big blue bag yesterday."
Consonants
Sound 03 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 23/44
/t/
The /t/ Sound
Voiceless Alveolar Plosive
Key Chart Word: tea
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
tea
/tiː/
Word 2
time
/taɪm/
Word 3
cat
/kæt/
💬
Context Sentence
"Two tall teachers drank hot tea at ten."
Consonants
Sound 04 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 24/44
/d/
The /d/ Sound
Voiced Alveolar Plosive
Key Chart Word: dog
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
dog
/dɒɡ/
Word 2
dark
/dɑːk/
Word 3
bed
/bed/
💬
Context Sentence
"David had a friendly dog in the yard."
Consonants
Sound 05 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 25/44
/tʃ/
The /tʃ/ Sound
Voiceless Post-Alveolar Affricate
Key Chart Word: cheese
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
cheese
/tʃiːz/
Word 2
chair
/tʃeə/
Word 3
catch
/kætʃ/
💬
Context Sentence
"Charlie chose a cheese sandwich for lunch."
Consonants
Sound 06 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 26/44
/dʒ/
The /dʒ/ Sound
Voiced Post-Alveolar Affricate
Key Chart Word: June
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
June
/dʒuːn/
Word 2
jump
/dʒʌmp/
Word 3
bridge
/brɪdʒ/
💬
Context Sentence
"Jack drank orange juice in July with Jane."
Consonants
Sound 07 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 27/44
/k/
The /k/ Sound
Voiceless Velar Plosive
Key Chart Word: car
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
car
/kɑː/
Word 2
king
/kɪŋ/
Word 3
back
/bæk/
💬
Context Sentence
"The cook kept a quick black cat in the kitchen."
Consonants
Sound 08 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 28/44
/ɡ/
The /ɡ/ Sound
Voiced Velar Plosive
Key Chart Word: go
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
go
/ɡəʊ/
Word 2
girl
/ɡɜːl/
Word 3
bag
/bæɡ/
💬
Context Sentence
"A good girl gave a green gift to the guest."
Consonants
Sound 09 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 29/44
/f/
The /f/ Sound
Voiceless Labiodental Fricative
Key Chart Word: fly
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
fly
/flaɪ/
Word 2
fish
/fɪʃ/
Word 3
coffee
/ˈkɒf.i/
💬
Context Sentence
"Four fast frogs found fresh food on Friday."
Consonants
Sound 10 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 30/44
/v/
The /v/ Sound
Voiced Labiodental Fricative
Key Chart Word: video
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
video
/ˈvɪd.i.əʊ/
Word 2
voice
/vɔɪs/
Word 3
leave
/liːv/
💬
Context Sentence
"Victor gave five lovely vases to Valerie."
Consonants
Sound 11 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 31/44
/θ/
The /θ/ Sound
Voiceless Dental Fricative
Key Chart Word: think
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
think
/θɪŋk/
Word 2
three
/θriː/
Word 3
bath
/bɑːθ/
💬
Context Sentence
"I think three thin men ran through the path."
Consonants
Sound 12 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 32/44
/ð/
The /ð/ Sound
Voiced Dental Fricative
Key Chart Word: this
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
this
/ðɪs/
Word 2
that
/ðæt/
Word 3
mother
/ˈmʌð.ə/
💬
Context Sentence
"This father and mother live there together."
Consonants
Sound 13 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 33/44
/s/
The /s/ Sound
Voiceless Alveolar Fricative
Key Chart Word: see
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
see
/siː/
Word 2
sun
/sʌn/
Word 3
bus
/bʌs/
💬
Context Sentence
"Sam saw six small sailboats on the sea."
Consonants
Sound 14 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 34/44
/z/
The /z/ Sound
Voiced Alveolar Fricative
Key Chart Word: zoo
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
zoo
/zuː/
Word 2
zebra
/ˈzeb.rə/
Word 3
rose
/rəʊz/
💬
Context Sentence
"The zebra at the busy zoo enjoys the breezy roses."
Consonants
Sound 15 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 35/44
/ʃ/
The /ʃ/ Sound
Voiceless Post-Alveolar Fricative
Key Chart Word: shall
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
shall
/ʃæl/
Word 2
ship
/ʃɪp/
Word 3
fish
/fɪʃ/
💬
Context Sentence
"She showed a shiny shell in the shop."
Consonants
Sound 16 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 36/44
/ʒ/
The /ʒ/ Sound
Voiced Post-Alveolar Fricative
Key Chart Word: television
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
television
/ˈtel.ɪ.vɪʒ.ən/
Word 2
vision
/ˈvɪʒ.ən/
Word 3
treasure
/ˈtreʒ.ə/
💬
Context Sentence
"It is a pleasure to measure the hidden treasure."
Consonants
Sound 17 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 37/44
/m/
The /m/ Sound
Bilabial Nasal
Key Chart Word: man
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
man
/mæn/
Word 2
moon
/muːn/
Word 3
home
/həʊm/
💬
Context Sentence
"My mother made many warm meals in March."
Consonants
Sound 18 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 38/44
/n/
The /n/ Sound
Alveolar Nasal
Key Chart Word: now
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
now
/naʊ/
Word 2
night
/naɪt/
Word 3
sun
/sʌn/
💬
Context Sentence
"Nine nice neighbours invited Nancy to dinner."
Consonants
Sound 19 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 39/44
/ŋ/
The /ŋ/ Sound
Velar Nasal
Key Chart Word: sing
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
sing
/sɪŋ/
Word 2
ring
/rɪŋ/
Word 3
long
/lɒŋ/
💬
Context Sentence
"The young king was singing a long song."
Consonants
Sound 20 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 40/44
/h/
The /h/ Sound
Voiceless Glottal Fricative
Key Chart Word: hat
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
hat
/hæt/
Word 2
horse
/hɔːs/
Word 3
home
/həʊm/
💬
Context Sentence
"Henry was happy to have a hot drink at home."
Consonants
Sound 21 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 41/44
/l/
The /l/ Sound
Alveolar Lateral Approximant
Key Chart Word: love
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
love
/lʌv/
Word 2
light
/laɪt/
Word 3
call
/kɔːl/
💬
Context Sentence
"Lucy likes looking at little yellow flowers."
Consonants
Sound 22 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 42/44
/r/
The /r/ Sound
Post-Alveolar Approximant
Key Chart Word: red
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
red
/red/
Word 2
rain
/reɪn/
Word 3
run
/rʌn/
💬
Context Sentence
"Robin ran through the rain on the red road."
Consonants
Sound 23 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 43/44
/w/
The /w/ Sound
Voiced Labial-Velar Approximant
Key Chart Word: wet
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
wet
/wet/
Word 2
water
/ˈwɔː.tə/
Word 3
win
/wɪn/
💬
Context Sentence
"We went walking by the water in the warm wind."
Consonants
Sound 24 of 24
Standard British English (RP) • Phoneme 44/44
/j/
The /j/ Sound
Voiced Palatal Approximant
Key Chart Word: yes
Standard IPA
Non-rhotic RP
Example Words & IPA Transcriptions
Chart Word
yes
/jes/
Word 2
you
/juː/
Word 3
yellow
/ˈjel.əʊ/
💬
Context Sentence
"Yesterday you saw a young girl wearing yellow."