eɪ
Diphthong
/eɪ/ — Diphthong (face, day)
Example words
| Word | US English | UK English |
|---|---|---|
| day | /ˈdeɪ/ | /deɪ/ |
| face | /ˈfeɪs/ | /feɪ̯s/ |
| rain | /ˈɹeɪn/ | /ɹeɪn/ |
| say | /ˈseɪ/ | /seɪ/ |
| make | /ˈmeɪk/ | /meɪk/ |
| late | /ˈleɪt/ | /leɪt/ |
| name | /ˈneɪm/ | /neɪm/ |
| game | /ˈɡeɪm/ | /ɡeɪ̯m/ |
| play | /ˈpleɪ/ | /ˈpleɪ/ |
| eight | /ˈeɪt/ | /eɪt/ |
Transcriptions come from pronunciation lexicons IPAtics maintains, in US and UK English.
How to produce this sound
SoundDiphthong (face, day).
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 /eɪ/, so hearing them side by side isolates the sound.
- late/ˈleɪt/let/ˈlɛt/
- pain/ˈpeɪn/pen/ˈpɛn/
- gate/ˈɡeɪt/get/ˈɡɛt/
- wait/ˈweɪt/wet/ˈwɛt/
Spelling patterns
- ay as in day
- a…e as in face
- ai as in rain
- eigh as in eight
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