Types of Vowels with Examples in English Phonetics

Do you know that we must have at least one vowel in to form and spell a syllable?

Vowels are phonemes that are produced without any appreciable constriction or blockage of airflow in the vocal tract. Vowel letters consist of a, e, i, o, and u. But there are many kinds of vowels based on their sounds when we spell them.  

Let’s see the classification on vowels based on the vowel’s representations.

1. Monophthongs

Also known as pure and stable vowels because the monophthong articulated as one sound just like the original form of the letter. 

Below are some of the pronunciation symbols of the monophthong vowel letters and the example for each.

  • Hit        [i]
  • Lick        [I]
  • Beg        [e]
  • Fed        [?]
  • Glad        [æ]
  • Two        [u]
  • Should    [?]

Read more on Examples of 12 Monophthongs.

2. Diphthongs

The diphthong is a sound formed by two vowels that are articulated like a single syllable. Usually it begins with a vowel, then moves on to other vowels as we spell out the syllable.

We use the digraph symbol to represent a diphthong vowel. These are the list of the examples:

  • Sight        [a?]
  • Mouse        [a?]
  • Toy        [??]
  • Make        [e?]
  • Fur        [??]

Read more on Examples of 8 Diphthong Sounds.

Now let’s see the classification of vowels based on the tongue height.

3. Close Vowel

Close vowel occurs when our tongue raises towards the roof of our mouth. Because of that, our mouth will be closed, so it’s called a close vowel. However, the close vowel category can be more specific based on the intensity of more high or more low our tongue is.

We can use the vowel chart to make it easier for us to identify the close vowels. Here are the examples:

  • Close        :    [i]    See

[i:]    Any

[u]    Ooze

  • Near close    :    [?]    Lit

[?]    Book

  • Close mid     :    [e]    Bait

[o]    Hope

[?]    Thing

4. Open Vowel

When we spell the open vowel, our tongue will move down towards the lower jaw that makes our mouth open, so it’s called an open vowel.

let’s look to the word that include an open vowel in it.

  • Open mid    :    [?]    Head

[?]    Small

[?]    Fun

  • Near open    :    [æ]    Laugh

[?]    Lot

  • Open        :    [a]    Snake 

[ä]    Ethiopic

[?]    Spa

Read more on

Based on the tongue advancement

5. Front Vowel

When we placed our tongue in the front section of our mouth as we spelled a word, it makes the vowel called the front vowel. However, it must not create any constriction with its pronunciation that can turn it into a consonant.              

These are the vowel that include in the front vowels:

  • Island        [i]
  • East        [e]
  • Have         [a]
  • Pin        [?]
  • Cake        [e?]
  • Cat        [æ]

6. Central Vowel

Central vowel or later known as a mixed vowel (schwa), is a type of vowel that positioned your tongue halfway, between the front and back section of your mouth.

The following are the examples of central vowel:  

  • Earth        [?]
  • Teacher    [?]
  • Nut        [?]

7. Back Vowel

When we placed our tongue at the back section of our mouth as we spelled a word, it makes the back vowel sounds. 

Examples of back vowel:

  • Book         [u]
  • Egyptian    [?]
  • Go        [o]
  • Oops         [U]
  • All        [)]

Read more on Examples of Front and Back Vowels.

Moving onto the classification of vowels based on the labialization.

8. Rounded Vowel

In this case, our mouth will form like a circle when we articulate a syllable with a rounded vowel in it. 

Examples of rounded vowels:

  • Note
  • Look
  • Rule
  • Boot
  • Well (semivowel)

9. Unrounded Vowel

When we spell a word with an unrounded vowel, our mouth will be open sideways.

Examples of unrounded vowels:

  • Milk
  • Sew
  • Desk
  • Ask
  • Wave

Read more on Examples of Rounded and Unrounded Vowels.

We also have a classification of vowels based on the tenseness.

10. Tense Vowel

We need to give more effort and use more muscle to articulate this kind of vowel. And also, our tongue slightly goes to a higher position and doing its job for more duration than the lax vowels. 

Below are the examples of tense vowel:

  • Palm
  • Thought
  • Nurse
  • Goose 
  • Fleece

11. Lax Vowel 

This kind of vowel needs consonants to follow it. They do not occur alone at the ends of the word. Lax vowels are also shorter than tense vowels.

Below are the example of lax vowels:

  • Ink
  • Red
  • Said
  • Sand
  • Brother
  • Gone
  • Pull
  • Teacher

Read more on Examples of Tense and Lax Vowels.

Keep exploring EnglishBix to learn about pure vowel sounds and other vowel concepts in detail.

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