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    Pronunciation · diphthong

    The /aɪ/ sound: i as in my

    In short

    /aɪ/ is a closing diphthong: glides from open /a/ towards /ɪ/, the diphthong you hear in my, time, eye. 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 /aɪ/

    1. 1Open your mouth wide for the /a/ start.
    2. 2Glide up towards /ɪ/, closing your jaw as you go.
    3. 3One smooth sweep: my, time, why.

    Sounds like: the word 'eye' / the letter I

    /aɪ/ in words, with audio

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

    • mymaɪ · sound is final
    • timetaɪm · sound is medial
    • eyeaɪ · sound is initial
    • highhaɪ · sound is final
    • buybaɪ · sound is final
    • quitekwaɪt · sound is medial

    The mistake almost everyone makes

    Cutting the glide short so 'like' sounds close to 'lack', or over-lengthening the first part. Both endpoints must be heard.

    Spellings of /aɪ/

    These letter patterns commonly spell /aɪ/: i_e y igh ie uy. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.

    Words that drill /aɪ/

    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.

    hyperbolehy-PUR-buh-leeawryuh-RYparadigmPA-ruh-dymeislandEYE-lundpsychologysy-KOL-uh-jeelibraryLY-bruh-reeironEYE-unchoirKWY-uh

    Browse the whole word bank

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    Frequently asked questions

    How do you pronounce the /aɪ/ sound?
    Open your mouth wide for the /a/ start. Glide up towards /ɪ/, closing your jaw as you go. One smooth sweep: my, time, why.
    What is the most common mistake with /aɪ/?
    Cutting the glide short so 'like' sounds close to 'lack', or over-lengthening the first part. Both endpoints must be heard.
    Which spellings make the /aɪ/ sound?
    Common spellings include “i_e”, “y”, “igh”, “ie”, “uy”, as in my /maɪ/, time /taɪm/, eye /aɪ/.
    Does /aɪ/ matter for IELTS?
    It matters moderately. Errors are noticeable but only sometimes affect understanding. Fix the high-priority vowel contrasts and final consonants first, then polish this one.

    Next step

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