What is IPA?

Did you know English has more sounds than letters?

That's why it can be so tricky for learners to figure out how to pronounce words based on spelling alone. Try to pronounce the words: "cat", "father", and "any", and you will see that the letter "a" sounds different in each word.

Worry not; there is a solution! IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) — a system where each sound is represented by a single, consistent symbol. It helps you decode pronunciation by understanding:

• Which letters are pronounced or silent

  Example: "knight" → /naɪt/ (silent "k" and "gh")

  Example: "hour" → /aʊər/ (silent "h")

• How to pronounce specific vowels

  Example: "engine" → /ˈɛn.dʒɪn/ ("i" sounds like /ɪ/)

  Example: "cut" → /kʌt/ ("u" sounds like /ʌ/)

• Where to place emphasis in a word

  • Using (ˈ) for primary stress and (ˌ) for secondary stress.

  Example: "banana" → /bəˈnɑː.nə/ (primary stress on first "na")

  Example: "Tennessee" → /ˌtɛnəˈsiː/ (secondary stress on "ten", primary on "see")

IPA Chart

What IPA do we display?

Keep in mind that regional accents vary, so many words have multiple correct IPA transcriptions. Some Americans pronounce aunt /ænt/ and others /ɑːnt/. Reverso displays the most commonly used IPA for each word — one that is widely recognised and understood. Some cases where we display multiple IPA are when:

• A word has two very common pronunciations

  Example: "data" → /ˈdeɪ.tə/ or /ˈdæ.tə/

• British and American pronunciations differ

  Example: "schedule" → US: /ˈskɛdʒ.uːl/, UK: /ˈʃɛd.juːl/

• Pronunciation changes with meaning

  Example: "lead" → /liːd/ (to guide) or /lɛd/ (the metal)

What is Respelling?

Since IPA symbols can sometimes feel complex, Reverso also offers pronunciation Respelling — an intuitive phonetic spelling using standard letters to show how a word sounds. It shows you where to:

• Break words into syllables using dashes:

  Example: "interesting" → IN-truh-sting

  Example: "September" → SEP-tuhm-ber

• Place emphasis with capital letters:

  Example: "Wednesday" → WENZ-day

  Example: "America" → a-MER-i-ca

Master English Pronunciation with Reverso

Learning pronunciation can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Whether you're struggling with confusing sounds, silent letters, or building confidence in conversations, Reverso has the tools to transform your speaking skills.

Our Pronunciation Toolkit

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Native Pronunciation

In both American and British English, across all devices.

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Pronunciation Guide

Learn to use IPA and Respelling. Decode how words sound.

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AI Voice Coach

Record yourself and get instant feedback anytime, anywhere.

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