20 Vowel Sounds In English (+Video and Quiz)

There are 44 sounds in English. 24 of them are CONSONANT SOUNDS while the rest 20 are English vowel sounds.

See the (20) vowel sounds in English with their correct pronunciation, word examples and questions to practice.

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The 20 vowel sounds in English are basically grouped into — 12 monothongs and 8 diphthongs.

What are monothongs?

Monothong means ‘one sound‘. They are also called “pure vowel sounds”.

There are 12 monothongs in English which are further divided into — 7 short and 5 long monothongs.

Short vowel sounds

These monothongs have a ‘short‘ pronunciation and lack the length marker (ː)

Click on any of them below to see that vowel lesson with its pronunciation, word examples and questions to practice.

1. VOWEL SOUND /ɪ/

2. VOWEL SOUND /ʊ/

3. VOWEL SOUND /æ/

4. VOWEL SOUND /ɒ/

5. VOWEL SOUND /e/

6. VOWEL SOUND /ʌ/

7. VOWEL SOUND /ə/

Long vowel sounds

These monothongs have a ‘long‘ pronunciation and are identified by their length marker (ː)

Click on any of them below to see that vowel lesson with its pronunciation, word examples and questions to practice.

1. VOWEL SOUND /iː/

2. VOWEL SOUND /uː/

3. VOWEL SOUND /ɑː/

4. VOWEL SOUND /ɔː/

5. VOWEL SOUND /ɜː/

What are diphthongs?

Diphthong means ‘two sounds‘. They are formed by the combination of two monothongs.

There are 8 diphthongs in English.

1. VOWEL SOUND /eɪ/

2. VOWEL SOUND /aɪ/

3. VOWEL SOUND /əʊ/

4. VOWEL SOUND /aʊ/

5. VOWEL SOUND /ɪə/

6. VOWEL SOUND /eə/

7. VOWEL SOUND /ɔɪ/

8. VOWEL SOUND /ʊə/

Do you have something to ask about these vowel sounds in English? Let me know in the comments below.