The Letter I
In this lesson, we will learn about all the sounds of the letter I. It is the ninth letter of the English alphabet. Let's begin.
"I" is the ninth letter and the third vowel letter of the modern English alphabet.
Vowels are sounds that are pronounced without any restriction in the vocal tract. It means we can produce it with the unrestricted flow of air.
The Letter I: 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: /ɪ/
Sound 2: /i/
Sound 3: /aɪ/
"i" also sounds /aɪ/ when "i" stands between two consonants or occasionally at the beginning of words and before consonants:
ch
t
Sound 4: /ə/
Sound 5: /ɜː/
Other Sounds
Sound 6: /j/
The Letter I: Multigraphs
"i" can also appear with other letters (mainly vowels and sometimes consonants). They can create distinct vowels:
ie
"ie" commonly has two sounds:
- /i/
- /aɪ/
1. "ie" sounds /i/:
ach
br
cook
2. "i" after a consonant and before the vowel "e" sounds /aɪ/:
p
t
l
Tip!
"ie" in the word
fr
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/:
ch
p
f
Tip!
"ai" sounds /aɪ/ in the word "bonsai:"
bons
ei
"ei" commonly has two sounds:
- /eɪ/
- /iː/
1. "ei" mainly sounds /eɪ/:
v
r
r
2. "ei" also sounds /iː/:
rec
c
rec
Tip!
Note that "ei" in the words "n
eigh
"eigh" sounds /eɪ/, in other words, "gh" is silent:
n
w
Tip!
"eigh" in the word height sounds /aɪ/:
h
oi
"oi" commonly have two sounds:
- /ɔɪ/
- /ə/
1. "oi" sounds /ɔɪ/:
j
c
t
2. "oi" also sounds /ə/:
tort
porp
ui
"ui" commonly has two sounds:
- /uː/
- /ɪ/
1. "ui" together sounds /uː/:
fr
j
s
2. However, "ui" sometimes sounds /ɪ/:
bisc
b
circ
ia
The Letter I: Uses
The letter "I" can be used as: the first-person singular nominative pronoun, but always in its capital form ➝ I
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