The International Phonetic Alphabet can help you check the pronunciation of difficult words before completing a PTE Core Speaking task. For a basic explanation of what IPA is and why it is useful, begin with our Introduction to the IPA. In this guide, we will move to the next step and learn how to understand common IPA symbols and pronunciation marks.
You do not need to memorize the complete IPA chart. Instead, you can gradually learn to recognize the symbols that appear when you check unfamiliar words in a dictionary.
In this guide, we will use a new Read Aloud passage to practice:
- recognizing familiar and unfamiliar IPA symbols;
- identifying consonant and vowel sounds;
- understanding the schwa
/ə/; - recognizing longer vowel sounds; and
- locating word stress.
PTE Core Read Aloud Practice
First, read the following passage aloud without checking any pronunciation guide:
A common way of permitting others to use an intellectual property right is to give express permission for it. This can be done in return for financial remuneration. In such cases, the holder of an intellectual property right is often referred to as granting a licence to use what the holder otherwise has exclusive rights to, subject to certain conditions.
As you read, notice any words that make you hesitate. Difficult words may include:
- permitting
- intellectual
- property
- express
- permission
- financial
- remuneration
- holder
- referred
- granting
- licence
- otherwise
- exclusive
- subject
- conditions
We will now use IPA to examine some of these words.
IPA Pronunciation Is Written Between Slashes
In dictionaries, IPA transcriptions are normally written between two slashes:
/ /
For example:
book /bʊk/
name /neɪm/
teacher /ˈtiːtʃə/
The slashes show that the symbols represent pronunciation rather than ordinary spelling. You do not pronounce the slashes themselves.
Here are several words from the Read Aloud passage:
permitting /pərˈmɪtɪŋ/
intellectual /ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl/
permission /pəˈmɪʃən/
licence /ˈlaɪsəns/
conditions /kənˈdɪʃənz/
Pronunciation may vary slightly between dictionaries and English accents. For example, some dictionaries include an /r/ sound in words where others do not. These small variations are normal.
Some IPA Symbols Look Like Familiar Letters
Many IPA symbols resemble English letters and represent sounds you probably already recognize.
For example:
/p/ as in property
/b/ as in book
/t/ as in time
/d/ as in done
/m/ as in common
/n/ as in conditions
/k/ as in cases
/l/ as in licence
Look at the word:
permission /pəˈmɪʃən/
The symbols /p/, /m/, and /n/ resemble familiar letters and represent familiar consonant sounds.
However, IPA symbols always represent sounds rather than spelling. The spelling of a word and its IPA transcription will not always match letter by letter.
For example:
intellectual /ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl/
The letters tu contribute to the /tʃu/ sound. Reading the word according to individual written letters may therefore produce an incorrect pronunciation.
Some English Sounds Use Special IPA Symbols
Other IPA symbols may look unfamiliar because there is no single English letter that consistently represents the sound.
Common examples include:
/ʃ/ as in ship
/ʒ/ as in vision
/tʃ/ as in chair
/dʒ/ as in job
/θ/ as in think
/ð/ as in this
/ŋ/ as in sing
These seven symbols appear often in Read Aloud passages. Below is a wider reference chart of common English IPA symbols. You do not need to memorize it. Use it when a dictionary transcription contains a symbol you do not recognize.
Consonants
Vowels
Diphthongs
The /ʃ/ Sound
The symbol /ʃ/ represents the sound at the beginning of ship.
The same sound can appear with different spellings:
sure /ʃʊə/
nation /ˈneɪʃən/
In the Read Aloud passage, it appears in:
permission /pəˈmɪʃən/
financial /faɪˈnænʃəl/
remuneration /rɪˌmjuːnəˈreɪʃən/
conditions /kənˈdɪʃənz/
Notice that /ʃ/ may be written as sh, ti, ci, or si. The spelling changes, but the sound remains similar.
The /tʃ/ Sound
The symbol /tʃ/ represents the sound at the beginning of chair.
It appears in:
intellectual /ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl/
Practice the end of the word separately:
-tellectual
Then practice it in the phrase:
an intellectual property right
The /dʒ/ Sound
The symbol /dʒ/ represents the sound at the beginning of job.
It appears in:
subject /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/
Do not pronounce the letter j separately. /dʒ/ represents one combined consonant sound.
Practice:
subject to certain conditions
The /ð/ Sound
The symbol /ð/ represents the voiced th sound in words such as this and those.
It appears in:
others /ˈʌðəz/
otherwise /ˈʌðəwaɪz/
To produce /ð/, place the tip of your tongue lightly between your teeth and allow your vocal cords to vibrate.
Avoid replacing it with /d/, /z/, or /s/.
Practice:
permitting others
the holder otherwise has
The /ŋ/ Sound
The symbol /ŋ/ represents the final sound in sing.
It appears in:
permitting /pərˈmɪtɪŋ/
granting /ˈɡræntɪŋ/
In words ending in -ing, /ŋ/ is normally one sound. Avoid adding an unnecessary strong /g/ after it.
Practice:
granting a licence
IPA Shows Vowel Sounds More Clearly Than Spelling
English vowel letters can represent several different sounds. Consider the letter a:
cat /kæt/
name /neɪm/
father /ˈfɑːðə/
about /əˈbaʊt/
The written letter is the same, but the pronunciation changes. IPA shows the actual vowel sound in each word.
Some common English vowel symbols include:
/ɪ/ as in sit
/iː/ as in see
/e/ as in bed
/æ/ as in cat
/ʌ/ as in cup
/ɑː/ as in car
Pay Attention to the Schwa /ə/
It is one of the most common vowel sounds in spoken English.
/ə/ as in the first syllable of about
holder /ˈhoʊldər/
otherwise /ˈʌðərwaɪz/
financial /faɪˈnænʃəl/
licence /ˈlaɪsəns/
Looking at the IPA helps you avoid guessing the vowel sound from spelling alone.
The Length Mark /ː/ Shows a Longer Vowel
In many dictionaries, the symbol /ː/ shows that the preceding vowel is relatively long.
For example:
see /siː/
food /fuːd/
car /kɑː/
Or back to the same example, compare:
ship /ʃɪp/
sheep /ʃiːp/
The vowels differ in both their sound and their length.
The length mark appears in words from the passage such as:
use /juːz/
remuneration /rɪˌmjuːnəˈreɪʃən/
granting /ˈɡræntɪŋ/
referred /rɪˈfɜːrd/
Do not exaggerate a long vowel, but avoid shortening it so much that it becomes unclear or sounds like a different vowel.
Practice:
to use an intellectual property right
financial remuneration
referred to as granting
IPA Shows Word Stress
IPA also identifies the stressed syllable in a word.
The main stress mark looks like this:
/ˈ/
It appears immediately before the stressed syllable.
For example:
teacher /ˈtiːtʃər/
important /ɪmˈpɔːrtənt/
banana /bəˈnænə/
In teacher, the first syllable is stressed:
TEA-cher
In important, the second syllable is stressed:
im-POR-tant
Now examine the stress in some words from the Read Aloud passage:
per-MIT-ting /pərˈmɪtɪŋ/
intel-LEC-tual /ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl/
PRO-per-ty /ˈprɒpəti/
per-MI-ssion /pərˈmɪʃən/
fi-NAN-cial /faɪˈnænʃəl/
remu-ne-RA-tion /rɪˌmjuːnəˈreɪʃən/
re-FERRED /rɪˈfɜːd/
GRANT-ing /ˈɡrɑːntɪŋ/
LI-cence /ˈlaɪsəns/
ex-CLU-sive /ɪkˈskluːsɪv/
SUB-ject /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/
con-DI-tions /kənˈdɪʃənz/
Incorrect word stress can make a word harder to recognize, even when its individual sounds are mostly correct.
When preparing a Read Aloud passage, mark the stressed syllables in longer words before recording your response.
Read the Passage Again
Now read the complete passage again:
A common way of permitting others to use an intellectual property right is to give express permission for it. This can be done in return for financial remuneration. In such cases, the holder of an intellectual property right is often referred to as granting a licence to use what the holder otherwise has exclusive rights to, subject to certain conditions.
During your second reading, focus on:
- producing
/ʃ/,/tʃ/,/dʒ/,/ð/, and/ŋ/clearly; - reducing unstressed vowels naturally;
- maintaining longer vowel sounds where necessary;
- placing stress on the correct syllables; and
- reading difficult phrases without unnecessary pauses.
Do not stop after every minor error. Clear pronunciation and smooth delivery should support each other.
As you continue practicing, these symbols will become easier to recognize and will help you prepare unfamiliar Read Aloud passages more independently.
Practice more Read Aloud questions to apply IPA symbols, place stress correctly, and read more smoothly under test conditions.
