The Letter A
In this lesson, we will learn all the sounds of the letter A, 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/
Sound 2: /æ/
Sound 3: /ɑ/
Sound 4: /eɪ/
"a" sounds /eɪ/:
b
sn
t
Sound 5: /ɔ/
Other Sounds
Sound 6: /e/
Sound 7: /ɪ/
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
Tip!
"ae" sounds /eɪ/ in the word "sundae:"
sund
au
"au" commonly has two sounds:
- /ɔ/
- /æ/
1. "au" sounds /ɔ/:
l
s
2. "au" also sounds /æ/:
l
Tip!
"au" sounds /oʊ/ in French loanwords:
m
augh
"augh" sounds /ɔ/, so "gh" is silent:
c
n
d
ay
"ay" sounds /eɪ/:
tr
cr
runw
Tip!
"ay" sounds /ɛ/ in the word "says:"
s
aw
"aw" sounds /ɔː/:
p
str
j
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
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.
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