Double Letters & Pronunciation
In this lesson, we're gonna work on 'double letters' and how we can pronounce them. You're still interested in learning more, aren't you?
In this lesson, we will learn how the same letters (normally two), whether consonants or vowels, stand together and create double letters. Meanwhile, we will examine how the pronunciation of double letters might change.
Categories of Double Letters
- Double Consonants
- Double Vowels
1. Double Consonants
The most common double consonants are 'ss, ll, cc, tt, rr, and pp.' Double consonants can be divided into two categories:
Double Consonants & the Same Sound
1.1 The largest category is when double consonants stand together without any change in the pronunciation. For example, 'rr' in the word
- rr
dia
a
- ss
a
fu
- ff
o
a
Double Consonants & Two Different Sounds
1.2 Another group is when two consonants stand together and produce two different sounds, like 'cc'. The reason is that the consonant itself has two main sounds. For example:
a
a
a
a
Tip
However, 'cc' also sounds /k/ when each 'c' is in a separate syllable. To know more, go back to the rule number one:
so
a
2. Double Vowels
ee
'ee' mainly sounds /i:/ and it can stand at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a word:
tr
f
'ee' also sounds /ɪə/:
ch
engin
pion
oo
'oo' in the middle of words mainly sounds /uː/:
t
gr
sp
'oo' in the middle of words also sounds short /ʊ/:
h
t
b
'oo' in the middle of words sounds /ʌ/, only in these two words:
bl
fl
'oo' in the middle of words and always before 'r' can also sound /ɔ:/. So 'oor' always sounds /ɔːr/.
d
fl
m