top of page

International Phonetic Alphabet

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a set of phonetic symbols designed to represent pronunciation of the world’s languages in a unified way.

Overview

​This website assumes a working knowledge of IPA but provides this section as a reference that can be used as needed. Below is included a sound inventory of all the sounds found in “standard” American English as well as a second sound inventory that also includes sounds found in other world Englishes.

Standard American English Phonemic Inventory

Standard American English Consonants

1

image.png

Standard American English Vowels

2

image.png
image.png

Additional Resources

Useful website for exploring all sounds in Standard American English (not just phonemes):



Interactive overview of the British sound inventory:



All sounds and symbols in the IPA with audio samples:



Online IPA keyboard:

 

References

1. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). English phonemic inventory [chart]. Retrieved December 13, 2023. https://www.asha.org/siteassets/uploadedfiles/englishphonemicinventory.pdf

​

2. San Diego Voice and Accent. (n.d.). [chart]. Retrieved December 13, 2023. https://sandiegovoiceandaccent.com/american-english-vowels/the-vowels-of-american-english

This page was created by the following students at Brigham Young University, in 2023:
Rylin Green, Amber Smith, London Brimhall, Savannah Lunt
bottom of page