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 cryfry sky

2. In a two-syllable word, y is pronounced as [i:].

party puppy candy bunny funny ponyturkey happy cherry tiny penny citybaby

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 iceCycle cyclone cypress

2. When C is followed by o, u a, it is pronounced as [k].

country cold cup cut curb can cat capcouple computer

The city has cement.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 GeorgeWagon 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 rcar 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

-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