‘So-Called’ General American Accent
‘Pure’ Vowel Sounds
(Monophthongs)
Front Vowel Sounds
(vowel sounds created with the tongue positioned near the front of the mouth)
[ i ] FLEECE
I need more cheese pizza.
I received the keys over the weekend.
Recently, I watched a decent feature film.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
[ ɪ ] KIT
I should commit to this grocery list.
We finished the official business quickly.
Winning isn't always easy, but typically, its fun.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
[ ɛ ] DRESS
If my memory serves me well, you were twenty-seven.
The men said that many of them were ready.
I read the celebrity gossip in the people section.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
[ æ ]
TRAP/BATH
The cat in the hat has big hands.
The bathtubs at the Standard Hotel are grand.
You should ask my friend Adam if he'd like to dance.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
This practice sentence contains all four of the front vowel sounds.
I definitely need this desk for an easy, specific, and random task.
Central Vowel Sounds
(vowel sounds created with a centralized tongue position)
[ ə ] THE, ABOVE
Many of the test scores were above average.
The bird was flying around the house.
Apparently, the boss was uptight.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
[ ɐ ] STRUT
One time I wondered where thunder comes from.
Doug just doesn’t understand how to have fun.
I loved that wonderful rug so much.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
[ɚ] UNDER
(unstressed position)
She was a better runner in cooler weather.
Her amazing friends joined her for dinner.
The painter reconsidered her inspiration.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
[ ɚ ] NURSE
(stressed position)
The nurse was the first one at work.
I was certain I had searched my purse.
The curvature of the earth is perfect.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
This practice sentence contains all four of the mid vowel sounds.
He drew circles around the purple gum under the desk just for fun.
Back Vowel Sounds
(vowel sounds created with the tongue positioned near the back of the mouth)
[ u ] GOOSE
I polished my shoes and boots with a new brush.
Ruby went to school early on Tuesday.
He threw the ball through the window of the two story house.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
[ ʊ ] FOOT
I couldn’t finish the good book.
Would you mind looking for my hoodie?
The wolf stood in the woods.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
[ ɒ ] or [ ɑ ]
THOUGHT
I called the awesome dog Paul.
All my friends thought I’d gone home.
The awful audits rarely happen in the fall.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
[ ɑ ]
LOT / FATHER
My father stopped to shop for a watch.
I dropped a hot pot on the top of my socks.
Tom consciously considered the atomic clock.
Practice sentences are read twice - once for pronunciation clarity, and once at conversational speed.
This practice sentence contains all four of the back vowel sounds.
I knew the awesome coffee pots were not always useful.