Fonética: Los sonidos del inglés

Quienes comienzan a estudiar la lengua inglesa encuentran dificultades en la pronunciación, en particular, los hispano-parlantes. ¿Por qué? La razón principal es que muchos sonidos típicos del inglés no existen en castellano. Un ejemplo: en inglés existen 12 vocales, mientras que en castellano sólo se pronuncian 5. Entonces, para emprender el aprendizaje del idioma inglés deberás aprender a pronunciar los sonidos.

All those who start learning English find its pronunciation rather difficult, especially the Spanish-speaking students. Why? The main reason is that many sounds typical of English do not exist in Spanish. Just an example: English has 12 vowels, whereas only 5 are pronounced in Spanish. To learn English you must learn the pronunciation of the sounds.

PHONETIC ALPHABET - THE ENGLISH SOUNDS Alfabeto fonético - Los sonidos ingleses
SYMBOLS # 1 VOWELS / VOCALES		SYMBOLS # 2 DIPHTHONGS / DIPTONGOS
SYMBOLS # 3 CONSONANTS / CONSONANTES		SYMBOLS # 4 CONSONANTS / CONSONANTES
PRACTICE WITH READING EXERCISES Some tips about the audio / Consejos acerca del audio
PRACTICE # 1 VOWELS / VOCALES		PRACTICE # 2 DIPHTHONGS / DIPTONGOS
PRACTICE # 3 CONSONANTS / CONSONANTES		PRACTICE # 4 CONSONANTS / CONSONANTES
VOICELESS AND VOICED SOUNDS Sonidos sordos y sonoros
ENGLISH SPELLING ORTOGRAFIA INGLESA		ENGLISH ALPHABET ALFABETO INGLES
GENERAL PRONUNCIATION RULES Reglas generales de pronunciación

The Phonetic Alphabet (El alfabeto fonético)

The Phonetic Alphabet (El alfabeto fonético)

IDIOMA INGLES 44 sonidos

ALFABETO INGLES 26 letras

ALFABETO FONETICO 44 símbolos

Los sonidos del idioma inglés son 44, pero el alfabeto inglés sólo contiene 26 letras. Por lo tanto, resulta evidente que las letras del alfabeto inglés no son suficientes para representar todos los sonidos del idioma. ¿Cómo será posible indicar, entonces, al estudiante extranjero, y en particular al estudiante autodidacta, la pronunciación inglesa? La respuesta es simple. Recurriendo a un alfabeto convencional, llamado alfabeto fonético, que comprende un símbolo para cada sonido, o sea, 44 símbolos. Quede bien claro desde un principio que una cosa es alfabeto inglés y otra alfabeto fonético. El alfabeto inglés comprende 26 letras y es usado en la ortografía (consúltalo pulsando AQUÍ). En cambio, el alfabeto fonético comprende 44 símbolos y es usando convencionalmente para indicar la pronunciación.

The English Sounds (Los sonidos ingleses)

Hemos distribuido los 44 sonidos del idioma inglés del siguiente modo:

PRACTICE 1		PRACTICE 2		PRACTICE 3 & 4
12 vocales		8 diptongos		24 consonantes (15 sonoras y 9 sordas)

Si bien puedes acceder a cualquiera de estos cuadros pulsando directamente en ellos, sugerimos que comiences tu práctica o aprendizaje en el orden de dificultad como los hemos presentado:  VOCALES (Practice 1); DIPTONGOS (Practice 2); CONSONANTES (Practice 3 & 4).

Sound Chart

Sound Chart

LETTER	GROUPINGS, SOUND AND EXAMPLE
A	a ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [] ... exact a ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [] ... father a ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... about a ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... base, able a ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... share aa ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [] ... bazaar, aardvark ai ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... said ai ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... aisle ai ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... maid au ...'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... cause au ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... gauge au ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [] ... aunt ay ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... says ay ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... pay augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... daughter aw ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... shawl ea ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... heat ea ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... ocean ea ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... head ea ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [] ... heart ea ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... great eau ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [] ... beauty ea[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [] ... learn oa ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... oat
B	silent ...thumb b ... 'b' as in 'bit' ... [] ...bone
C	c ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... casserole ce ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... ice ce ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... ocean cc ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... with 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... accent ch ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... choir ch ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [] ... chance ch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... chartreuse ci ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [] ... ancient ck ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... back cz ... 't' as in 'time' ... [] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... czar (one of two possible pronunciations) sch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... schmuck
D	d ... 'd' as in 'dime' ... [] ... dark dge ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [] ... judge ed ... 't' as in 'time' ... [] ... tripped
E	e ... silent ... there ce ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... ice ce ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... ocean dge ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [] ... judge e ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... shed e ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... be e ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... anthem ea ...'ah' as in 'father' ... [] ... heart ea ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... heat ea ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... head ea ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... ocean ea ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... great ea[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [] ... learn eau ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [] ... beauty ed ... 't' as in 'time' ... [] ... tripped ee ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [] ... been ee ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... weep ei ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... receive ei ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... veil eig ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... foreign (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... []) eig ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... reign eigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... weigh eigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... height eo ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... leopard eo ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... people ew ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [] ... few ew ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... blew ey ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... key ey ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... they ie ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... friend ie ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... brief ie ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... lie oe ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... foe ue ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... blue ye ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... bye
F	f ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... fear f ... 'v' as in 'van' ... [] ... of
G	, sign augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... daughter dge ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [] ... judge eig ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... foreign (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... []) eig ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... reign eigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... weigh eigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... height igh ...'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... sigh g ... 'g' as in 'gap' ... [] ... go ge ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [] ... beige ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [] ... ring ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [] with 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... angst ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [] with 'g' as in 'gap' ... [] ... anger ough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... though ough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... thought ough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... through ough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [] ... bough ough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... cough ough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... enough
H	silent ... honor, thyme augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... daughter ch ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... choir ch ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [] ... chance ch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... chartreuse h ... 'h' as in 'hi' ... [] ... happy igh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... sigh eigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... weigh eigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... height ough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... though ough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... thought ough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... through ough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [] ... bough ough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... cough ough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... enough ph ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... phone sch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... schmuck sh ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... shame th ... 'th' as in 'thin' ... [] ... thanks th ... 'th' as in 'this' ... [] ... those
I	ai ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... said ai ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... aisle ai ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... maid ci ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [] ... ancient ei ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... receive ei ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... veil eig ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... foreign (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... []) eig ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... reign eigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... weigh eigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... height i ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [] ... him i ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... time i ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... pencil (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... []) ie ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... friend ie ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... grieve ie ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... lie igh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... sigh i[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [] ... bird oi ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [] ... moist oi ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [] with 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... choir ui ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [] ... build si ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [] ... vision ti ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... motion ti ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [] ... mention
J	j ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [] ... joy j ... 'y' as in 'yes' ... [] ... fjord j ... 'h' as in 'hi' ... [] ... junta
K	silent ... know ck ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... back k ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... king
L	silent ... palm l ... 'l' as in 'lap' ... [] ... love
M	m ... 'm' as in 'map' ... [] ... mine
N	silent ... damn n ... 'n' as in 'nap' ... [] ... name n ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [] ... think ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [] ... ring ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [] with 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... angst ng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [] with 'g' as in 'gap' ... [] ... anger
O	eo ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... leopard eo ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... people o ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [] with 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] ... one o ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [] ... women o ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... do o ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [] ... wolf o ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... go o ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] ... love o ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... bottom oa ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... oat oe ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... foe oi ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [] ... moist oi ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [] with 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... choir oo ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... too oo ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [] ... wood oo ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] ... blood oo ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... brooch ou ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... you ou ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [] ... could ou ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] ... trouble ou ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... soul ou ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [] ... round ou[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [] ... journey o[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [] ... word ough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... though ough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... thought ough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... through ough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [] ... bough ough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... cough ough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... enough ow ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [] ... cow ow ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... row oy ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [] ... joy wo ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... two
P	p ... 'p' as in 'pit' ... [] ... pear ph ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... phone
Q	q ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... quiet
R	r ... 'r' as in 'run' ... [] ... rat
S	silent ... island s ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... some s ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [] ... his sch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... schmuck si ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [] ... vision sh ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... shame ss ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... []... issue ss ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ...miss ss ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [] ... possession
T	silent ... fasten t ... 't' as in 'time' ... [] ... tap t ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [] ... future th ... 'th' as in 'thin' ... [] ... thanks th ... 'th' as in 'this' ... [] ... those ti ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [] ... motion ti ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [] ... mention
U	silent ... plague (it signals a hard G without being pronounced) au ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... cause au ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... gauge au ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [] ... aunt augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... daughter eau ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [] ... beauty ou ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] ... trouble ou ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [] ... could ou ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... you ou ... ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... soul ou ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [] ... round ough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... though ough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... thought ough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... through ough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [] ... bough ough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... cough ough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... enough ou[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [] ... journey u ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... autumn u ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [] ... up u ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [] ... union u ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... bury u ... 'uh' as in 'pull' ... [] ... full u ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... flute u ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [] ... quiet ue ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... blue ui ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [] ... build u[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [] ... burn
V	v ... 'v' as in 'van' ... [] ... voice
W	silent ... answer aw ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] ... shawl ew ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [] ... few ew ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... blew ow ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [] ... cow ow ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [] ... row w ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [] ... wise wo ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [] ... two
X	x ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... ax, expert x ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [] ... xylophone x ... 'g' as in 'gap' ... [] with 'z' as in 'zip' ... [] ... exhibit
Y	ay ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... says ay ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... pay ey ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... key ey ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [] ... they oy ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [] ... joy y ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [] ... crypt y ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [] ... syringe y ... 'y' as in 'yes' ... [] ... you y ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... rhyme, my y ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [] ... melody ye ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... bye y[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [] ... myrtle
Z	cz ... 't' as in 'time' ... [] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... czar (one of two possible pronunciations) z ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [] ... lazy z ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [] ... azure z ... 't' as in 'time' ... [] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [] .. Nazi z ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... ritz