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English Pronunciation: A Sounds


There are 3 main sounds that American English speakers make with the A vowel. But there are also two more that will be shown here. Watch videos with the instructor speaking the A vowel sounds using the 500 common words in English.
Short A: the sound in the word "cat." Lips are pulled back and the throat is a little tight. This sound is an American sound. It is not used as much in other languages or British English.
Long A: the same as the sound of the letter: A.
Open A: the "ah" sound that is used in British English. It is the singer's sound or the sound you make at the doctor when your throat is checked.
An/m: When A is next to N or M, it sounds like the sound between a Long A and a Short A with a Y at the end. "And" sounds like A(y)nd with a very small Y.
Schwa: This is the simplest vowel and the most common sound in our language. It is the "u" sound in "up" and in phonetics, it is an upside down "e."

Short A

Long A

Open A

An/m

Schwa

At

Name

All

And

About

Have

Say

Want

Can

Again

Had

Same

Also

Am

Against

Has

Play

Small

Land

Machine

Add

Way

Water

Animal

Above

Act

Make

Call

Stand

Final

Ask

Day

Saw

Answer

Special

Than

Change

Walk

Man

Island

After

Page

Always

Plant

Ago

Back

May

Fall

Plan

Among

Last

Take

Watch

Family

 

Example

Place

Talk

Am

 

Map

Made

 

 

 

Black

Came

 

 

 

Class

Late

 

 

 

Happen

Care

 

 

 

Fact

Carry

 

 

 

Half

Rain

 

 

 

Pass

Base

 

 

 

Fast

Lay

 

 

 

Travel

Wait

 

 

 

Laugh

Face

 

 

 

Language

Main

 

 

 

The Long A sound is the most common. Here are some more words with the long A sound: able, contain, gave, tail, stay, area, table, plane, age, game, shape, state, plain

Was this helpful? Try out the full list of common English words divided by important sounds: A, E, I, O, U, R, L and more. You work with this list and other survival vocabulary lists when you begin English pronunciation tutoring online or in person or take a local class. We have English Pronunciation Seattle classes every quarter at the University of Washington. 

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