Help - Phonetics AI Assistant Dictionary Translate Grammar Thesaurus +Plus Cambridge Dictionary +Plus Games Cambridge Dictionary +Plus My profile +Plus help Log out {{userName}} Cambridge Dictionary +Plus My profile +Plus help Log out Log in / Sign up English (UK) 1 ? true : false } }), searchAutoComplete.changeToLayoutContainer(); tap:AMP.setState({ stateSearch: { autocomplete: stateSearch.dataset != 'wordlists' && stateSearch.term.length 1 } })" / English 1) ? '/autocomplete/amp?dataset=' + stateSearch.dataset + '&q=' + stateSearch.term : 'https://'" 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? 'pa pdd chac-sb tc-bd bw hbr-20 hbss lpt-25' : 'hdn'" {{word}} {{#beta}} Beta{{/beta}} {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{^selected}} {{name}} {{/selected}} {{/preferredDictionaries}} Pronunciation symbols Help Pronunciation symbols The Cambridge Dictionary uses the symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to show pronunciation in writing. You can recognize these pronunciations by the slashes before and after, for example, /pen/. You can also click on the icons to listen to the pronunciation in UK or US English. The symbols are sometimes similar to the letters used in English, but there are some important differences. To see how each symbol is pronounced, look at the list below and listen to the pronunciations. This list shows UK and US pronunciations together so that you can compare them. Note that some sounds are found only in UK English or only in US English. Vowels Consonants Other sounds Stress and syllable division Vowels iː UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio sheep UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ɪ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ship UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ɑː UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio father UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio æ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio hat UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ʌ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio cup UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ɔː UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio horse UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ɒ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio sock UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio uː UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio blue UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ʊ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio foot UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio e UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio head UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ɜː UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio bird UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ɝː US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio bird US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ə UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio above UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ɚ US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio mother US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio eɪ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio day UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio aɪ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio eye UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ɔɪ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio boy UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio əʊ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio nose UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio oʊ US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio nose US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio aʊ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio mouth UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ɪə UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ear UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio eə UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio hair UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ʊə UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio pure UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio aɪə UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio fire UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio aʊə UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio hour UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio Consonants p UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio pen UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio b UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio book UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio t UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio town UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio t̬ US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio cutting US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio d UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio day UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio k UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio cat UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio g UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio give UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio f UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio fish UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio v UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio very UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio θ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio think UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ð UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio this UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio s UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio say UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio z UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio zoo UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ʃ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio she UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ʒ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio vision UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio tʃ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio cheese UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio dʒ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio jump UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio m UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio moon UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio n UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio name UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ŋ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio sing UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio l UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio look UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio r UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio run UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio w UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio we UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio j UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio yes UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio h UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio hand UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio Other sounds These sounds are found in some unstressed syllables: i UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio happy UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio u UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio situation UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio These sounds are found in some words that come from other languages: ɒ̃ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio croissant UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio x UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio loch UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio These syllables can be pronounced either with or without a vowel: əl UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio label UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio əm UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio criticism UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ən UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio sudden UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ər UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio dictionary UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio This symbol shows that /r/ is pronounced at the end of a word in UK English, but only before a vowel. When there is no vowel following, /r/ is not pronounced: ◌r /fɔːr/ four apples /ˌfɔːr ˈæp.əlz/ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio four cars /ˌfɔː ˈkɑːz/ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio Stress and syllable division This symbol shows how the word can be divided into syllables: . syllable division system /ˈsɪs.təm/ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio /ˈsɪs.təm/ US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio These symbols show the parts of the word that are pronounced strongly. The primary stress is the strongest stress and the secondary stress is a little less strong than the primary stress: ˈ primary stress surprise /səˈpraɪz/ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio /sɚˈpraɪz/ US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio ˌ secondary stress retell /ˌriːˈtel/ UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio /ˌriːˈtel/ US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio Note that some pronunciations in the American Dictionary and the Essential American English Dictionary are shown slightly differently. They do not show the long vowel marker /ː/ with the sounds /i/, /ɑ/, /ɔ/, and /u/. In place of the syllable division symbol /./, they show a raised dot /·/. {{#randomImageQuizHook.filename}} {{#randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes Try a quiz now {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{^randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.filename}} Word of the Day comfort zone UK Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio /ˈkʌm.fət ˌzəʊn/ US Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio /ˈkʌm.fɚt ˌzoʊn/ a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested About this Blog Hitting the nail on the head: idioms with ‘hit’ July 22, 2026 Read More AI Assistant Facebook Instagram X © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Learn Learn Learn New Words Help In Print Word of the Year 2021 Word of the Year 2022 Word of the Year 2023 Word of the Year 2024 Word of the Year 2025 Develop Develop Develop Dictionary API Double-Click Lookup Search Widgets License Data About About About Accessibility Cambridge English Cambridge University Press & Assessment Consent Management Cookies and Privacy Corpus Terms of Use AI Terms of Use Facebook Instagram X © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 {{#displayLoginPopup}} Cambridge Dictionary +Plus Learn more with +Plus Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content: Free word lists and quizzes from Cambridge Tools to create your own word lists and quizzes Word lists shared by our community of dictionary fans Sign up now or Log in Cambridge Dictionary +Plus Learn more with +Plus Create word lists and quizzes for free Sign up now or Log in {{/displayLoginPopup}} {{#displayClassicSurvey}} {{/displayClassicSurvey}} Cambridge Dictionary +Plus My profile +Plus help Log out AI Assistant Dictionary Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English Translations Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. 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