Help & FAQ
Find answers to common questions below.
How do I use the chart?
Simply click on any of the phonetic symbol cards to hear the sound. To hear the sound used in a word, click on the example word written at the bottom of the card. You can navigate between sound categories (Monophthongs, Diphthongs, Consonants) using the category cards on the homepage or the links in the navigation bar.
What do the colors mean?
The colors help distinguish between the main categories of sounds:
- Cyan: Monophthongs (single vowel sounds)
- Orange: Diphthongs (combined vowel sounds)
- Red: Consonants
What does the 🔇 symbol mean?
The 🔇 symbol indicates an unvoiced consonant sound. This means the sound is produced without vibrating the vocal cords; it's made mostly with air. Examples include /p/, /t/, and /s/. Voiced consonants, like /b/, /d/, and /z/, do use vocal cord vibration.
The sound isn't playing. What should I do?
This application relies on modern browser features. Please ensure you are using an up-to-date version of a major browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Also, check that your device's sound is on and not muted. If you are on a mobile device, sometimes you need to interact with the page first (e.g., click a button) before audio can play due to browser restrictions.
Which dialect of English is this chart for?
This chart represents the sounds of British English, specifically Received Pronunciation (RP). While many sounds overlap with other dialects, some symbols and pronunciations are specific to British English.