LUCAS CORIMAYO

North American Phonics

First of all, you need to know what the consonants and vowels are.
English Vowels: a,e,i,o,u, and sometimes y, w
When "y" or "w" appears at the beginning of a word or syllable, it is / they are NOT vowels
English Consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, z, (and w & y if occurring at the
beginning of a word or syllable)
Now, you need to know the vowel sounds:
Y and W:
As vowels: boy, cow
As consonants: you, wool

North American English

Vowel Sounds
(APA = American Phonetic Alphabet)
Short Vowel

APA

Long Vowel

i&y

i&y

Irregular (STRANGE) Vowel Sounds

APA = American Phonetic Alphabet
IPA = International Phonetic Alphabet

APA

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a
APA //

u
APA / / or /

"Schwa"
(in unstressed
syllables)

u & oo
/

APA /

APA / /

IPA /a/

IPA /u:/

IPA / /

IPA / /

father

flu

put

ago

mama

rude

good

cancel

wad

dude

wood

pencil

tar

suit

hood

button

dart

fruit

foot

submit

ska

crew

soot

subdue

NOTE: The schwa / / sound only appears in unstressed syllables.

NOTE: The short u sound is almost the same as the schwa sound.
NOTE: The sound is almost the same as the American short "o" sound.

English Spelling Rules

Rule #1: CVC rule.
[CVC = Consonant-Vowel-Consonant]
The vowel is short! (99% true) [in CVCC the vowel is also short] (99% true)
Examples: rat, hen, sit, not, cut
Rule #2: CVC + silent e rule
[Mr. Silent "e" says, "Change your sound!"]
The vowel is long! (99% true)
Example: rate, here, site, note, cute
Rule #3: hard c / soft c rule
3a) Hard "C" : When c+a OR c+o OR c+u exists, then "c" has the /k/ sound.
(It doesn't matter if the vowel is short or long).
Examples: The con man can put a cane into a cone and a cub into a cube.

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3b) Soft "C" : When c+e OR c+i OR c+y exists, then "c" has the /s/ sound.
(It doesn't matter if the vowel is short or long).
Examples: The city center has a circle.
More Ex.): I will recite the cyclical cycles of circular cells.
Rule #4: k instead of c rule
K instead of "C" : Why? Because "c" changes it's sound when followed by e, i, and y, we
needed a new letter in English.
When we need a hard "c" sound + e,i,y, then we have to use "k". It doesn't matter if the vowel is
short or long.
Examples: Kelly keeps kissing the kite, while Kym keeps kissing Kyle.
More Ex.): Kyle the king is kind, even though he is only a kid.
What about K + a, o, u?!!!
Words that have k + a,o,u are "loan words" from other languages.
Examples: kangaroo (Aus.Aboriginal word), Korea (Korean word), kung fu (Chinese word)
Rule #5: hard g / soft g rule
3a) Hard "G" : When g+a OR g+o OR g+u exists, then "g" has the /g/ sound.
(It doesn't matter if the vowel is short or long).
Examples: The bad guy got a gun and put a gag on the gal.
More Ex.): The good guy gave the bad guy a gallon of gas in his galoshes.
3b) Soft "G" : When g+e OR g+i OR g+y exists, then "g" has the /j/ sound.
(It doesn't matter if the vowel is short or long).
Examples: The gentle gypsy put gel in her hair, then gyrated her hips.
More Ex.): I like ginseng and ginger.
Exceptions: give, gill, get, geyser, girl
Why? Because "C" has a friend named, "K", but "G" has nobody, nobody, but you!
Ha, ha, ha; I crack myself up!
Rule #6: double consonant rule
Explanation: There's a SHORT VOWEL before a double consonant. (99% TRUE!!!)

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Examples
(short vowels)

Non-examples
(long vowels)

planner

planer

dinner

diner

hopping

hoping

supper

super

NOTE: there are many exceptions to this rule.

SOME EXCEPTIONS: caller, stalling, falling, etc.
ALSO: Occasionally, there may be a single consonant after a short vowel sound. It drives me
crazy.
SOME EXAMPLES: elephant,

Rule #7: CV rule

Explanation: If the word ends in a vowel, it is usually long.
Examples: he, me, we, hi, go, no, so, flu, Katmandu, and Timbuktu.
Some super weird exceptions: to, do, ma, pa, ska, bla, bla, bla

Rule #8: final a = schwa sound (

Examples:
Linda
pizza
Zebra
Korea
India
America

Rule #9: Change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'/'er'/'est'

Explanation: If there is a vowel before the 'y', as in 'day', just add 's' (days).
Examples: day-days, play-plays, way-ways, toy-toys, boy-boys
Explanation: If there is a consonant before the 'y', as in 'try', change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'.
Examples: try-tries, cry-cries, dry-dries, fly-flies, sky-skies, country-countries
Explanation: Change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'er' or 'est'

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Examples: happy-happier-happiest; funny-funnier-funniest; pretty-prettier-prettiest; dirtydirtier-dirtiest

Rule #10: Change the 'f' to 'v' and add 'es'

Explanation: If there is an 'f' at the end of a word, we make it plural by changing the 'f' to 'v' and
add 'es'.
Examples: calf-calves, half-halves, wolf-wolves, wife-wives, knife-knives

Rule #11: Change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'ed' or 'ing'
Explanation: If there is a vowel before the 'y', just add 'ed' or 'ing'.
Examples: play-played-playing, destroy-destroyed-destroying
Explanation: If there isn't a vowel before the 'y', change the 'y' to 'i' & add 'ed' (but not for 'ing').
Examples: dry-dried-drying, cry-cried-crying, try-tried-trying
Exceptions: fly-flew-flying

Rule #12: Change the 'ie' to 'y' when adding 'ing'

Explanation: If the verb ends in 'ie', change the 'ie' to 'y' when adding 'ing'.
Examples: die-died-dying,
lie-lied-lying (if 'lie' = to tell a falsehood)
tie-tied-tying
Exceptions: lie-lay-lain (to put one's self in horizontal position on the floor or ground)

Pronunciation of Consonants

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Part 2: Digraphs (Ch & Th)
The symbols that we use for English today are from the Roman language. Yet English contains
words from Old English, Middle English, German, Latin, Greek, Arabic, Italian, and French. This
makes English pronunciation quite complicated. Of course, all of Europe uses Roman symbols,
but the Romanization of each language is quite different from one country to another. Sometimes
digraphs were invented to represent consonant sounds, which dont exist in Latin. For example,
Latin doesnt have the / / sound. In English, we represent this sound with the digraph Sh. In
French, the same sound is represented with the digraph Ch. Sometimes digraphs were
invented to distinguish the origin of the word. For example, the Greek letter /x/ (spelled: chi,
pronounced, /kai/) is transliterated as the digraph Ch, but it sounds like /k/. Why did they do
this? I dont know. It really makes things confusing. So in English, the digraph Ch has three
sounds, depending on the origin of the word. See table below.
1. Ch Rule(s)
Original English words, which begin with "ch" are pronounced like "

"

Greek-English words, which begin with "ch" are pronounced like a "k".
French-English words, which begin with "ch" are pronounced like "

"

Examples:
Greek-English
Words

Pure-English Words
"ch" = /

"ch" = /k/

French-English
Words
"ch" = /

champion

ache

champagne (wine)

chalk

stomach

chauffeur (driver)

cherry

chemistry

Cheri (name)

chip

chiropractor

chic (cool)

chop

chorus / choir

Chopin (name)

church

Christmas

chrome

chronicle

NOTE: there are some exceptions, like the English word "channel" is from French, but it has the
pure-English pronunciation.

2. Th Rule(s)
There are TWO "th" sounds: /

& /

/.

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Notice that the latter symbol looks much like a "d". That's because it sounds much like a "d",
and many non-native English speakers (or Pidgin/Creole speakers), will substitute the "d" sound
for the sound. The former symbol looks unlike any other alphabetical letter in English (or
Roman), and that's because it is unlike any other sound in English (or Roman). Since the
symbol is a Greek symbol, many words with that sound are from Greek (but not all).
Look at the diagrams (below) of the articulations of

, and d...

In the first diagram, we see that the tongue is clenched tightly between the teeth, blocking all air
from going in or out. Then, the tongue is drawn in very quickly, and by the laws of physics, air
must go out, but also combined the intercostal muscles in the chest contracting, a very strong,
almost plosive wind comes out of the mouth. (some say it is a fricative, but I firmly believe it to
be a plosive).
In the second diagram, the tongue is pressed up against the back of the upper teeth and
alveolar ridge. Like the , the initial articulation blocks the would-be hole between the open
teeth, not allowing any air to go in or out. BUT, unlike the , the movement forces the tongue
out of the mouth between the teeth (slowly), and then slowly the tongue goes back in and down.
Because of the slow movement of the tongue, it is labeled a fricative.
In the third diagram, we see that the "d" movement is almost identical to the

movement, except

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that the tongue doesn't actually leave the mouth. The initial articulations are different as well, but
not far apart, which would account for the similarity in sound.
In fact, many native speakers will use the "d" sound in place of the
funny.

sound, when trying to be

Example: "Duh Bears!" (Chicago Bears are a football team, and Chicagoans will often call them
"Duh Bears!").
Also, many non-native English speaker, which speak a Creole of English, like in Jamaica, will
use the "d" sound in place of the ; AND, they will use the "t" sound in place of the sound.
This works well, because both "d" and are fricatives, and both "t" and are plosives.

Pronunciation of Vowel Teams

Part 3: Vowel Teams (or Vowel Strings) with more than 1 sound
'ea' (short e sound); bread, breath, dead, death, head, lead, read, wealth,
'ea' (long e sound); bead, beat, breathe, eat, feat, heat, lead, leak, meat, neat, read, treat,
weak, wheat
'ea' (long a sound); break, great, steak

'ew' ( /u:/ ); dew, blew, chew, crew, flew, grew, knew, lewd, mew, stew,
'ew' ( /ju:/ ); few, new, pew

'oo' (short sound / /); book, foot, good, hood, hook, look, nook, rook, soot, took, wood,
'oo' ( /u:/ ); balloon, boot, cartoon, goose, loose, moose, loop, loot, moon, noon, poop, root,
stoop, toon, toot,
'oo' (schwa sound / /); blood, flood
'oo' (long o sound); boor, floor, door, moor

'ou' ('au' "short" sound); bough, grouse, house, louse, mouse, plough

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'ou' ('ou' "long" sound); though
'ou' (schwa sound / /); enough, rough, tough

'ow' ('au' "short" sound); brown, cow, how, now, wow

'ow' ('ou' "long" sound); blow, flow, grow, know, low, sow, tow,

Some Pronunciation Rules for English Words

I. How "Y" is pronounced in an English word.
"Y" is pronounced either as [ai] or [i:].
1. In a one-syllable word, "y" is pronounced as [ai].
my by fly shy try cry
fry sky
2. In a two-syllable word, "y" is pronounced as [i:].
party puppy candy bunny funny pony
turkey happy cherry tiny penny city
baby

II. How "C" is pronounced in an English word.

"C" is pronounced either as [s] or [k].
city country cider circle
1. When "C" is followed by "E" or "Y," it is pronounced [c].
cent cell cellar center ice
Cycle cyclone cypress
2. When "C" is followed by "o", "u" "a," it is pronounced as [k].
country cold
cup cut curb
can cat cap
couple computer
The city has cement.

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The country has corn.
We cycle in the city and drive our car in the country.

III. How "G" is pronounced in an English word.

1. When "G" is followed by "E," "I," or "Y," it is pronounced as []
gem giant gym george
2. When "G" is followed by "U," or "A," it is pronounced as [ ], or [ ].
gum gun gap gas garden
Gorgeous George
Wagon danger strangle stranger

IV. Pronunciation of vowel letters.

1. Long "a" and short "a"
e.g. cap - cape
-at cat bat hat rat fat sat
-ad sad had bad mad
-ag bag wag rag tag
-an can fan ran pan
-am ram ham jam yam
-ap map nap tap
If "E" is at the end of the word, "A" is pronounced as a long vowel.
gate take rake base race face wave cage
ending in "r"
car jar tar far
2. Long "i" and short "i"
-id lid kid did bid
-ig pig rig big dig wig
-in pin tin bin fin win
-ip lip rip dip hip tip
-it hit sit pit fit kit
If "E" is at the end of the word, "I" is pronounced as a long vowel.
kite bike vine ride dime
3. Long "o" and short "o"

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-og dog log fog jog hog
-op pop hop top mop
-ot hot got pot not
-ob sob cob mob job
If "E" is at the end of the word, "O" is pronounced as a long vowel.
rose hope pole
4. Long "u" and short "u"

-ut nut cut hut rut up cup put cup pup

-ub cub tub cub tub
-us bus
-un bun fun sun run
-ug bug tug mug hug
If "E" is at the end of the word, "O" is pronounced as a long vowel.
tune cube cute

Phonics, Syllable and Accent Rules

Phonics Rules
The vowels are "a,e,i,o, and u"; also sometimes "y" & "w". This also includes the
diphthongs "oi,oy,ou,ow,au,aw, oo" and many others.
The consonants are all the other letters which stop or limit the flow of air from the throat
in speech. They are: "b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k,l,m,n,p,qu,r,s,t,v,w,x,y,z,ch,sh,th,ph,wh, ng, and gh".
1. Sometimes the rules don't work.
There are many exceptions in English because of the vastness of the language and the
many languages from which it has borrowed. The rules do work however, in the majority
of the words.
2. Every syllable in every word must have a vowel.
English is a "vocal" language; Every word must have a vowel.
3. "C" followed by "e, i or y" usually has the soft sound of "s". Examples: "cyst",
"central", and "city".
4. "G" followed by "e, i or y" usually has the soft sound of "j". Example: "gem",
"gym", and "gist".
5. When 2 consonants are joined together and form one new sound, they are a
consonant digraph. They count as one sound and one letter and are never separated.
Examples: "ch,sh,th,ph and wh".

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6. When a syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is
short. Examples: "fat, bed, fish, spot, luck".
7. When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the silent "e" is a signal that the vowel in
front of it is long. Examples: "make, gene, kite, rope, and use".
8. When a syllable has 2 vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the
second is silent. Examples: "pain, eat, boat, res/cue, say, grow". NOTE: Diphthongs
don't follow this rule; In a diphthong, the vowels blend together to create a single new
sound. The diphthongs are: "oi,oy,ou,ow,au,aw, oo" and many others.
9. When a syllable ends in any vowel and is the only vowel, that vowel is usually
long. Examples: "pa/per, me, I, o/pen, u/nit, and my".
10. When a vowel is followed by an "r" in the same syllable, that vowel is "rcontrolled". It is not long nor short. "R-controlled "er,ir,and ur" often sound the same
(like "er"). Examples:"term, sir, fir, fur, far, for, su/gar, or/der".
Basic Syllable Rules
1. To find the number of syllables:
---count the vowels in the word,
---subtract any silent vowels, (like the silent "e" at the end of a word or the second
vowel when two vowels a together in a syllable)
---subtract one vowel from every diphthong, (diphthongs only count as one vowel
sound.)
---the number of vowels sounds left is the same as the number of syllables.
The number of syllables that you hear when you pronounce a word is the same as the
number of vowels sounds heard. For example:
The word "came" has 2 vowels, but the "e" is silent, leaving one vowel sound andone
syllable.
The word "outside" has 4 vowels, but the "e" is silent and the "ou" is a diphthong which
counts as only one sound, so this word has only two vowels sounds and therefore, two
syllables.
2. Divide between two middle consonants.
Split up words that have two middle consonants. For example:
hap/pen, bas/ket, let/ter, sup/per, din/ner, and Den/nis. The only exceptions are the
consonant digraphs. Never split up consonant digraphs as they really represent only one
sound. The exceptions are "th", "sh", "ph", "th", "ch", and "wh".
3. Usually divide before a single middle consonant.
When there is only one syllable, you usually divide in front of it, as in:
"o/pen", "i/tem", "e/vil", and "re/port". The only exceptions are those times when the
first syllable has an obvious short sound, as in "cab/in".
4. Divide before the consonant before an "-le" syllable.
When you have a word that has the old-style spelling in which the "-le" sounds like "-el",
divide before the consonant before the "-le". For example: "a/ble", "fum/ble", "rub/ble"
"mum/ble" and "this/tle". The only exception to this are "ckle" words like "tick/le".
5. Divide off any compound words, prefixes, suffixes and roots which have vowel
sounds.
Split off the parts of compound words like "sports/car" and "house/boat". Divide off

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prefixes such at "un/happy", "pre/paid", or "re/write". Also divide off suffixes as in the
words "farm/er", "teach/er", "hope/less" and "care/ful". In the word "stop/ping", the suffix
is actually "-ping" because this word follows the rule that when you add "-ing" to a word
with one syllable, you double the last consonant and add the "-ing".
Accent Rules
When a word has more than one syllable, one of the syllables is always a little louder
than the others. The syllable with the louder stress is the accented syllable. It may seem
that the placement of accents in words is often random or accidental, but these are
some rules that usually work.
1. Accents are often on the first syllable. Examples: ba'/sic, pro'/gram.
2. In words that have suffixes or prefixes, the accent is usually on the main root word.
Examples: box'/es, un/tie'.
3. If de-, re-, ex-, in-,po-, pro-, or a- is the first syllable in a word, it is usually not
accented. Examples: de/lay', ex/plore'.
4. Two vowel letters together in the last syllable of a word often indicates an accented
last syllable. Examples: com/plain', con/ceal'.
5. When there are two like consonant letters within a word, the syllable before the
double consonants is usually accented. Examples: be/gin'/ner, let'/ter.
6. The accent is usually on the syllable before the suffixes -ion, ity, -ic, -ical, -ian, -ial, or
-ious, and on the second syllable before the suffix -ate. Examples: af/fec/ta'/tion,
dif/fer/en'/ti/ate.
7. In words of three or more syllables, one of the first two syllables is usually accented.
Examples: ac'/ci/dent, de/ter'/mine.