The Letter E
In this lesson, we will learn about all the sounds of the letter E. It is the fifth letter of the English alphabet. Let's get started.
"E" is the fifth letter and the second vowel letter of the 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 E: Sounds
Vowels in the English language can have many many sounds. Here we will look at some of its common ones.
Sound 1: /ə/
The most common sound produced by "e" is /ə/:
oft
sil
env
Sound 2: /Ø/
"e" can be silent, mostly at the end of the words:
elop
grac
scor
Silent -e
The letter "e" is usually silent at the end of a word, as in "safe." Silent -e can also be found in the middle of a word, in a compound, such as "safeguard" (safe + guard), or when suffixes are added, such as "safely."
Sound 3: /ɛ/
Sound 4: /ɪ/
Sound 5: /iː/
Sound 6: /ɜ/
Tip!
"e" sounds /ɑ/ in the French loanwords "genre:"
g
The Letter E: Multigraphs
"e" can also appear in combination with other letters (mainly vowels and sometimes consonants). They can create distinct vowels:
ee
"ee" commonly has two sounds:
- /iː/
- /ɪə/
1. "ee" sounds /iː/:
tr
f
2. "ee" also sounds /ɪə/:
ch
engin
pion
ea
"ea" commonly has four sounds:
- /e/
- /iː/
- /eɪ/
- /ɪə/
1. "ea" in the middle of words sounds /e/:
br
h
thr
2. "ea" also sounds /iː/:
p
b
t
3. "ea" also sounds /eɪ/:
br
st
4. "ea" also sounds /ɪə/:
id
th
Tip!
"ea" sounds /e/ in the word "bear" and its combination:
b
ei
"ei" commonly has two sounds:
- /eɪ/
- /iː/
1. "ei" mainly sounds /eɪ/:
v
r
r
2. "ei" also sounds /iː/:
c
prot
rec
Tip!
"ei" in these two words sound /aɪ/ or /iː/:
n
eo
Tip!
"eo" sounds /iː/ in the word "people":
p
eu
"eu" commonly has three sounds:
- /jʊ/
- /juː/
- /uː/
1. "eu" sounds /jʊ/:
2. "eu" standing at the beginning of words can also sound /juː/:
3. "eu" standing in the middle of words always sounds /uː/:
n
ps
rh
ew
"ew" commonly has two sounds:
- /uː/
- /oʊ/
1. "ew" sounds /uː/ at the end of words:
cr
scr
cash
2. "ew" also sounds /oʊ/:
s
s
ey
"ey" commonly has two sounds:
- /iː/
- /eɪ/
1. "ey" sounds /iː/:
monk
donk
mon
2. "ey" also sounds /eɪ/:
pr
th
ae
Tip!
"ae" sounds /eɪ/ in the word "sundae:"
sund
ie
"ie" commonly has two sounds:
- /iː/
- /aɪ/
1. "ie" sounds /iː/:
ach
br
cook
2. "i" after a consonant and before the vowel "e" sounds /aɪ/:
p
t
Tip!
"ie" in the word friend sounds /ɛ/:
fr
oe
"oe" commonly has two sounds:
- /oʊ/
- /uː/
1. "oe" sounds /doʊ/:
d
h
t
2. "oe" at the end of words also sounds /uː/:
sh
can
Tip!
- "oe" sounds /ʌ/ in the word "does:"
d
- "oe" sounds /iː/ in French loanwords:
ph
f
ue
The Letter E: Uses
The letter "E" can be used as:
- The third musical note
- A grade in educational systems, like "
she got an E in French ."
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