aɪ
Diphthong
/aɪ/ — Diphthong (eye, my)
Example words
| Word | US English | UK English |
|---|---|---|
| high | /ˈhaɪ/ | /haɪ/ |
| tie | /ˈtaɪ/ | /taɪ/ |
| time | /ˈtaɪm/ | /taɪm/ |
| night | /ˈnaɪt/ | /naɪ̯t/ |
| eye | /ˈaɪ/ | /aɪ/ |
| buy | /ˈbaɪ/ | /baɪ/ |
| like | /ˈlaɪk/ | /laɪ̯k/ |
| fly | /ˈflaɪ/ | /flaɪ̯/ |
| wife | /ˈwaɪf/ | /waɪf/ |
| light | /ˈlaɪt/ | /laɪt/ |
Transcriptions come from pronunciation lexicons IPAtics maintains, in US and UK English.
How to produce this sound
SoundDiphthong (eye, my).
TongueGlide continuously from the first vowel target to the second target with no break.
LipsTransition lip shape continuously across the glide; avoid abrupt snapping.
JawMove jaw smoothly between the two vowel targets without pausing in the middle.
VoiceKeep voicing continuous and even through the segment.
Minimal pairs
Each pair differs only in /aɪ/, so hearing them side by side isolates the sound.
- bite/ˈbaɪt/bait/ˈbeɪt/
- mine/ˈmaɪn/main/ˈmeɪn/
- light/ˈlaɪt/late/ˈleɪt/
- tie/ˈtaɪ/tea/ˈti/
Spelling patterns
- igh as in high
- ie as in tie
- i…e as in time
- uy as in buy
- y as in fly
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