How to read English letters

The English alphabet consists of only 26 letters, while the sounds in the English language are much larger - 44. That is why most letters in the English language (especially vowels) can transmit different sounds depending on their position in the word. People who are just starting to learn English often have trouble reading English letters correctly.

Instruction manual

one

So, first of all, beginners need to learn that in English there are two types of syllables - open and closed. An open syllable is a syllable that ends in a vowel, for example, fame, rose, move, and so on. A closed syllable, respectively, ends in a consonant, for example, hen, bob, cat and others. The sound of the vowels will depend on whether they are part of an open or closed syllable.

2

The first letter of the alphabet A in the open syllable gives the sound [HEY], for example, take. In a closed syllable, this letter is read as [E], for example, cat. The vowel letter O in the open syllable gives the sound [op-amp], for example rose. In a closed syllable, it reads [O], for example, dog. The letter U in the open syllable is read as [Yu], for example, use. In a closed syllable, it reads [A], for example, bus. The letter E in the open syllable reads as [AND], for example, Pete. In a closed syllable, it reads [E], for example, pet. The letter I in the open syllable reads as [AI], for example, Mike. In a closed syllable, it reads [And], for example, pig. The letter Y in the open syllable is read as [AI], for example, fly. In a closed syllable, it reads as [AND], for example, system.

3

Vowels in English are often combined in letter combinations. The two letters OO read like [y], for example, book. Moreover, the sound [y] can be both long and short. The combination of EE reads as [AND] with a long sound, for example, see, bee and so on. The combination of EA is also read as a long [And], for example, tea, speak. The combinations AY and EY are read as [HEY], for example, away, gray.

4

As for the consonants, they are for the most part read in the same way as pronounced in the alphabet. The exceptions are the letters C and G. Before the vowels I, e and y, they are read as [C] and [J], for example city and page. Before all other vowels, the letter C reads as [K], and the letter G reads [G].

5

Consonants, like vowels, are often combined in letter combinations. The most common of these are CH, which reads as []], for example chat, and the combination SH, which reads as [[], for example shame. The letter combination NG gives a long nasal sound, for example, sing, swing. The combination of PH gives the sound [Ф], for example, phone. The letters KN are read as [N], for example, know.

note

In the English alphabet there are only 26 letters, and in the Russian as many as 33. Usually one consonant letter corresponds to one sound, but the letter X corresponds to two sounds - KS. British and American pronunciation are slightly different. This applies to the letter Z - the British version - [zɛd] “zed”, the American - [zi:] “zi”.

Useful advice

The English alphabet must be known not only when using the English dictionary, but in everyday life. When you will pronounce your name, surname, address, etc. in English, you will often need to spell it. So knowledge of the English alphabet is very useful in the future.

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