Pronunciation · diphthong
The /ɔɪ/ sound: oy as in boy
In short
/ɔɪ/ is a closing diphthong: glides from /ɔ/ towards /ɪ/, the diphthong you hear in boy, choice, enjoy. 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 /ɔɪ/
- 1Start with rounded lips on /ɔ/.
- 2Unround and glide up towards /ɪ/.
- 3Boy, choice, enjoy.
Sounds like: the 'oy' in 'ahoy'
/ɔɪ/ in words, with audio
Listen, then copy. The slow (turtle) version exaggerates the mouth movement.
- boybɔɪ · sound is final
- choicetʃɔɪs · sound is medial
- enjoyɪnˈdʒɔɪ · sound is final
- voicevɔɪs · sound is medial
- coinkɔɪn · sound is medial
- oilɔɪl · sound is initial
The mistake almost everyone makes
Simplifying to a single vowel so 'oil' sounds like 'all'. Rare, but the contrast matters in words like 'boy/bore' and 'toy/tore'.
Spellings of /ɔɪ/
These letter patterns commonly spell /ɔɪ/: oi oy. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce the /ɔɪ/ sound?
Start with rounded lips on /ɔ/. Unround and glide up towards /ɪ/. Boy, choice, enjoy.
What is the most common mistake with /ɔɪ/?
Simplifying to a single vowel so 'oil' sounds like 'all'. Rare, but the contrast matters in words like 'boy/bore' and 'toy/tore'.
Which spellings make the /ɔɪ/ sound?
Common spellings include “oi”, “oy”, as in boy /bɔɪ/, choice /tʃɔɪs/, enjoy /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/.
Does /ɔɪ/ matter for IELTS?
It is a polish-level sound: errors are audible but rarely stop a listener understanding you. IELTS scores intelligibility, not perfection; prioritise the contrasts that change word meaning.
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