This is the British Council phonemic chart. Help your students hear the sounds of English by clicking on the symbols below. Click on the top right hand corner of each symbol to hear sample words including the sounds.

About the chart

  • Pure vowels are arranged the same way as in the IPA chart: according to mouth shape (left to right, lips wide / round - top to bottom, jaw closed / open).
  • Diphthongs are grouped in rows according to their second sound.

Try some pronunciation activities

Sounds Right iPad app
If you have an iPad, you can download and install a free copy of the British Council phonemic chart on it. Find out more on LearnEnglish.

Download the chart
You can download this chart to use on your PC - you'll need Adobe Flash Player to use it.


Copyright information: © British Council. This pronunciation chart is free for you to use and share for educational purposes. The chart should in no way be used or circulated for financial gain.

 

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Comments

ivanruiz's picture ivanruiz replied on

these activities are really useful whenever I want to teach my students how words are pronouced.

emda74's picture emda74 replied on

I found this phonemic chart was very good for me, I tried to repeat all the letters`s sound many times it`s easy to use emad

cricardo21's picture cricardo21 replied on

Good evening everybody. I am a teacher from Venezuela, and I'd like to know how to download this phonetic chart to use it with my students in class

cricardo21's picture cricardo21 replied on

Hey Phil, thanks for you help... It's a helpful website

darwin1800's picture darwin1800 replied on

Hi,
Yes, Photransedit is great.... but I've found a discrepancy:
Example: noise
It's /ˌnɔɪz / in American translation, but /noiz/ in RP/British.
It's the same for all uses of ˌ/ɔɪ/, offline and online.
I've emailed them about it.
Phil

acLiLtocLiMB's picture acLiLtocLiMB replied on

Hi Darwin,
No doubt a typo - happens to the best of us. After all, we don't use /oi/, do we? I won't be surprised if there are other errors, too, but if we help them improve their database, it'll be good for all of us.
Regards,
Chiew

lulug's picture lulug replied on

Hi, as a new member, I welcome the opportunity to communicate with you regarding your Phonemic Chart.
 
I have used it on my students here in Guatemala, and I love it.  It is very useful in helping my students improve their understanding of the English language and its pronunciation.  Thank you.
 
Even though the chart comes in British English, and I speak American English, I still find it very useful plus it helps in creating an awareness in my students in the different ways of saying a word.  Again, thanks again from the land of the smoking volcanos.
 
Un saludo,
Lukie gomez

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