SpeakMetry
    Start free

    Pronunciation · vowel

    The /iː/ sound: ee as in see

    In short

    /iː/ is a long close front vowel, the vowel you hear in see, team, eat. Like every diphthong, the glide between two positions IS the sound. Below: exactly how to position your mouth, audio you can copy, the mistakes learners actually make, and drills to fix them.

    How to pronounce /iː/

    1. 1Spread your lips slightly, as if starting to smile.
    2. 2Raise the front of your tongue high in your mouth.
    3. 3Hold the sound; it is long: seeee, not si.

    Sounds like: the letter E said with a slight smile, held long

    /iː/ in words, with audio

    Listen, then copy. The slow (turtle) version exaggerates the mouth movement.

    • seesiː · sound is final
    • teamtiːm · sound is medial
    • eatiːt · sound is initial
    • reasonˈriːzən · sound is medial
    • machineməˈʃiːn · sound is medial
    • agreeəˈɡriː · sound is final

    The mistake almost everyone makes

    Cutting it short so 'sheep' sounds like 'ship', the length and the tighter, smiling lip position are what separate /iː/ from /ɪ/.

    Spellings of /iː/

    These letter patterns commonly spell /iː/: ee ea e_e ie ei i. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.

    Don't confuse it with…

    Minimal pairs isolate the exact contrast, the fastest way to train both your ear and your mouth.

    Words that drill /iː/

    Each has a full breakdown, audio in both accents and a recording drill. Practising a sound inside a real word transfers better than practising it alone.

    epitomeih-PIT-uh-meehyperbolehy-PUR-buh-leenicheNEESHhegemonyhih-GEM-uh-neeanemoneuh-NEM-uh-neefamilyFAM-leeeveryEV-reesecretarySEK-ruh-tree

    Browse the whole word bank

    Keep exploring

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you pronounce the /iː/ sound?
    Spread your lips slightly, as if starting to smile. Raise the front of your tongue high in your mouth. Hold the sound; it is long: seeee, not si.
    What is the most common mistake with /iː/?
    Cutting it short so 'sheep' sounds like 'ship', the length and the tighter, smiling lip position are what separate /iː/ from /ɪ/.
    Which spellings make the /iː/ sound?
    Common spellings include “ee”, “ea”, “e_e”, “ie”, “ei”, “i”, as in see /siː/, team /tiːm/, eat /iːt/.
    Does /iː/ matter for IELTS?
    Yes. This is a high-priority sound. Errors here frequently change one word into another, which examiners hear as reduced clarity (the exact Band 6 wording is “mispronunciation … reduces clarity at times”).

    Next step

    Hear how close your /iː/ is

    Record the sound and get instant AI feedback on it, free and with no account. SpeakMetry then maps every sound that needs work across your whole accent.

    Check your pronunciation