Vowel Sounds Quiz: Practice English Pronunciation

What is the short vowel sound in the word 'cat'?

What is the long vowel sound in the word 'meet'?

What is the diphthong in the word 'buy'?

How are short vowel sounds usually pronounced?

What is the difference between short and long vowel sounds?

What is the characteristic of diphthongs?

Which of the following words typically contains a long vowel sound?

What is the main difference between short vowel sounds and diphthongs?

In which type of syllable are long vowel sounds typically found?

What is the characteristic of the vowel sound in the word 'how'?

What is the main characteristic of short vowel sounds?

Vowels

Short Vowel Sounds

A short vowel sound is a vowel sound that is pronounced for a short duration
In English, the short vowel sounds are:
- /a/ as in "cat"
- /e/ as in "bet"
- /i/ as in "hit"
- /o/ as in "hot"
- /u/ as in "but"
Short vowel sounds are usually pronounced with a more closed and centralized mouth position

Long Vowel Sounds

A long vowel sound is a vowel sound that is pronounced for a longer duration
In English, the long vowel sounds are:
- /aː/ as in "cake"
- /eː/ as in "meet"
- /iː/ as in "seat"
- /oː/ as in "go"
- /uː/ as in "boot"
Long vowel sounds are usually pronounced with a more open and peripheral mouth position

Diphthongs

A diphthong is a combination of two adjacent vowel sounds pronounced in a single syllable
In English, the diphthongs are:
- /aɪ/ as in "buy"
- /aʊ/ as in "how"
- /eɪ/ as in "play"
- /eə/ as in "layer"
- /oɪ/ as in "boy"
- /oʊ/ as in "go"
- /uɪ/ as in "suit"
- /uə/ as in "pure"
Diphthongs are pronounced with a smooth transition between the two vowel sounds

Test your knowledge of English vowel sounds, including short and long vowel sounds and diphthongs. Learn about the pronunciation and characteristics of each sound.