Types of Vowels
Classification of Vowels
English Monophthong Vowels
English Diphthong Vowels
English Rhotic Vowels
100

This type of vowel is produced without any tongue movement while saying the vowel, as opposed to vowels that are produced with tongue movement while saying the vowel.

What is a monophthong vowel?

100

This articulatory classification of vowels is defined by lip posture during production.

What is lip rounding?

100

This is classified as a mid front unrounded lax vowel. It is produced with the highest part of the tongue raised midway in the mouth and forward in the oral cavity. The lips are in a relaxed, unrounded position.

What is /ɛ/?

100

This is a phonemic diphthong in General American English. It starts as a low central unrounded vowel and ends as a high front unrounded vowel.

What is /aɪ/?

100

This is a rhotic monophthong that is classified as a mid central rounded tense rhotic vowel.

What is /ɝ/?

200

This type of vowel has r-coloring, which is the "r" sound at the core of the vowel if a monophthong or as the offglide of the vowel if a diphthong or triphthong.

What is a rhotic vowel?

200

This articulatory classification of vowels is defined by how near the tongue body is to the roof of the mouth.

What is tongue height?

200

This is classified as a low back unrounded tense vowel. It is produced with the highest/bunched part of the tongue raised posteriorly in the mouth with the mandible lowered. It is made with the lips unrounded.

What is /ɑ/?

200

This is a non-phonemic diphthong in General American English. It starts as a mid back rounded vowel and ends as a high back rounded vowel.

What is /oʊ/?

200

This is a rhotic diphthong in General American English that is found in words like sneer and here. The onglide is a high front unrounded and the offglide is a mid central rounded rhotic.

What is /ɪɚ/?

300

This type of vowel is produced with tongue movement while saying the vowel, as opposed to vowels that are produced without tongue movement while saying the vowel.

What is a diphthong vowel?

300

This articulatory classification of vowels is defined by where the tongue is located in the oral tract on an anterior/posterior scale.

What is tongue advancement?

300

This is classified as a low front unrounded lax vowel. It is produced with the highest part of the tongue low and forward in the mouth; the open jaw results in its low vowel property. It is made with the lips unrounded.

What is /æ/?

300

This is a phonemic diphthong in General American English. It begins as a low central unrounded vowel and ends as a high back rounded vowel.

What is /aʊ/?

300

This is a rhotic diphthong in General American English that is found in words like sport and force. The onglide is mid back rounded and the offglide is a mid central rounded rhotic.

What is /ɔɚ/?

400

This is another name for monophthong vowels.

What are steady-state vowels?

400

This term is used to describe pairs of vowels that share tongue height, tongue advancement, and lip rounding, but differ in tenseness. In consonants, it is used to describe pairs that share the same place and manner of articulation, but differ in voicing.

What is a cognate?

400

This is classified as a high back rounded tense vowel. It is produced with the highest part of the tongue raised high at the back of the oral cavity. The lips are rounded.

What is /u/?

400

This is a non-phonemic diphthong in General American English. It starts as a mid front unrounded vowel and ends as a high front unrounded vowel.

What is /eɪ/?

400

This is a rhotic diphthong in General American English that is found in words like tour and pure. The onglide is high back rounded and the offglide is a mid central rounded rhotic.

What is /ʊɚ/?

500

This type of vowel is produced with tongue movement while saying the vowel, with three vowel qualities and tongue positions making up the vowel.

What is a triphthong?

500

This articulatory classification of vowels is defined by how central the tongue body is while saying vowels and the degree of muscular tension in the tongue.

What is tenseness?

500

This is classified as a high front unrounded lax vowel. It is produced with the highest part of the tongue raised high and forward in the oral cavity. The lips are unrounded.

What is /ɪ/?

500

This is a phonemic diphthong in General American English. It starts as a mid back rounded vowel and ends as a high front unrounded vowel.

What is /ɔɪ/?

500

This is a rhotic triphthong in General American English that is found in words like power and hour. The onglide is low central unrounded, then glides to a high back rounded position, and ends as a mid central rounded rhotic offglide.

What is /aʊɚ/?

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