eə
Diphthong
/eə/ — Diphthong (square, there)
Example words
| Word | US English | UK English |
|---|---|---|
| square | /ˈskwɛɹ/ | /skwɛə/ |
| there | /ˈðɛɹ/ | /ˈðeə/ |
| care | /ˈkɛɹ/ | /kɛə/ |
| hair | /ˈhɛɹ/ | /ˈheə/ |
| where | /ˈwɛɹ/ | /ˈweə/ |
| air | /ˈɛɹ/ | /ˈeə/ |
| chair | /ˈtʃɛɹ/ | /t͡ʃɛə/ |
| bear | /ˈbɛɹ/ | /bɛə/ |
| fair | /ˈfɛɹ/ | /fɛə/ |
| pair | /ˈpɛɹ/ | /pɛə/ |
Transcriptions come from pronunciation lexicons IPAtics maintains, in US and UK English. /eə/ appears only in the UK English transcriptions; the US English dictionary writes these words with another symbol.
How to produce this sound
SoundDiphthong (square, there).
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 /eə/, so hearing them side by side isolates the sound.
- fair/fɛə/fear/fɪə/
Spelling patterns
- are as in care
- air as in hair
- ere as in there
- ear as in bear
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