The Letter A
In this lesson, we will learn about all the sounds of the letter A. It is the first letter of the English alphabet. Let's begin.
The first letter of the English alphabet is 'A'. It is also the first vowel in the English language.
A vowel is a sound that is pronounced with the unrestricted flow of air and without any restriction in the vocal tract.
The Letter A: Sounds
Vowels in the English language can have many many sounds. Here we will look at some of its common ones.
Common Sounds
Sound 1: /ə/
'a' mainly sounds /ə/:
umbrell
pet
Sound 2: /æ/
'a' also sounds /æ/:
b
c
c
m
Sound 3: /ɑ/
'a' sounds /ɑ/:
f
p
c
Sound 4: /eɪ/
'a' sounds /eɪ/:
b
sn
t
Sound 5: /ɔ/
'a' sounds /ɔ/:
b
c
f
Other Sounds
Sound 6: /e/
'a' sounds /e/:
Sound 7: /ɪ/
'a' sounds /ɪ/:
cabb
bagg
pack
The Letter A: Multigraphs
'A' can also appear in combination with other letters (mainly vowels and sometimes consonants). They can create distinct vowels:
ai
'ai' commonly has four sounds:
- /eɪ/
- /ɛ/
- /ə/
- /ɪ/
1. 'ai' sounds /eɪ/:
sn
tr
s
2. 'ai' also sounds /ɛ/:
ag
s
ag
3. 'ai' also sounds /ə/:
curt
cert
4. 'ai' sometimes sounds /ɪ/ in 'ain' when it comes in the final syllable of a word:
barg
porcel
air
'air' sounds /ɛɚ/:
f
p
ch
Tip!
'ai' sounds /aɪ/ in the word 'bonsai':
bons
ae
'ae' sounds /ɛ/:
Tip!
'ae' sounds /eɪ/ in the word 'sundae':
sund
au
'au' commonly has two sounds:
- /ɔ/
- /æ/
1. 'au' in the middle or at the beginning of words sounds /ɔ/:
l
s
2. 'au' sounds /æ/:
l
augh
'augh' sounds /ɔ/, so 'gh' is silent:
c
n
d
Tip!
'au' sounds /oʊ/ in French loanwords:
m
ay
'ay' sounds /eɪ/:
tr
cr
runw
aw
'aw' sounds /ɔː/:
p
str
j
Tip!
'ay' sounds /ɛ/ in the word 'says':
s
ea
'ea' commonly has five sounds:
- /ɛ/
- /iː/
- /eɪ/
- /iːə/
- /ɪ/
1. 'ea' sounds /ɛ/:
h
br
thr
2. 'ea' sounds /iː/:
s
p
t
3. 'ea' also sounds /eɪ/:
br
st
4. 'ea' also sounds /iːə/:
id
th
5. 'ea' in 'ear' mainly sounds /ɪ/:
app
sh
Tip!
'ea' also sounds /ə/:
pag
oa
'oa' commonly has two sounds:
- /oʊ/
- /ɔ/
1. 'oa' sounds /oʊ/:
g
b
c
2. 'oa' also sounds /ɔ/:
abr
br
ia
'ia' sounds /ə/:
spec
Egypt
Tip!
aa does not occur in English words, but it is found in some names derived from other languages, such as
The Letter A: Uses
In English:
A is an indefinite article.
A can be used to show grade or quality.
A as a prefix can also mean 'not' or 'without'.
A is also used to show size, such as shoe size.