Editing Help:Pronunciation respelling key (section)

==Key==
Both the IPA and respelling for English on Wikipedia are designed to record all distinctive sounds found in major varieties of English. That is, we record differences found in some varieties but not in others, such as those between "father" and "farther", "wine" and "whine", and "cot" and "caught". This does not mean these differences are, or must be, always distinguished; if you speak a dialect that does not distinguish "father" and "farther", for example, simply ignore the difference between {{respell|FAH|dhər|link=no}} and {{respell|FAR|dhər|link=no}}.

For a more thorough discussion of the sounds and dialectal variation, see [[Help:IPA/English]].

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float: left; margin-right: 2em; text-align:center;"
|+ [[Vowel]]s
! colspan=2 | Rspl.
! class="unsortable" | Example(s)
! [[Help:IPA/English|IPA]]
|-
| {{big|''a''}} ||<ref name="checked">{{IPA|/æ, ɛ, ɪ, ɒ, ʌ, ʊ/}} (''a, e(h), i(h), o, u(h), uu'') are [[checked vowel]]s, meaning never occurring at the end of a word or before a vowel. When a checked vowel is followed by a consonant and a stressed vowel, which is rare nonetheless, it is acceptable in some cases to attribute the following consonant to the same syllable as the checked vowel, as in {{respell|bal|AY|link=no}}, even though in IPA it is customary to attribute it to the following syllable, as in {{IPAc-en|b|æ|ˈ|l|eɪ}}. However, when the following consonant is a voiceless plosive ({{IPA|/p, t, k/}}) pronounced with [[Aspirated consonant|aspiration]] (a slight delay in the voicing of the following vowel), it must be attributed to the same syllable as the following vowel, as in {{respell|ta|TOO|link=no}}, because {{respell|tat|OO|link=no}} may result in a different pronunciation than intended (compare "whatever" {{respell|whot|EV|ər|,_whut-|link=no}}, wherein {{IPA|/t/}} is not aspirated and may be [[T-glottalization|glottalized]] or [[Flapping|flapped]]). Similarly, when a vowel is followed by {{IPA|/s/}}, one or more consonants, and a stressed vowel, the syllabification must be retained, as in {{respell|fruh|STRAY|shən|link=no}}, because {{respell|frus|TRAY|shən|link=no}} may result in a different pronunciation than intended.</ref>
| {{left|b'''a'''t}}
| {{IPA|/æ/}}
|-
| {{big|''ah''}} ||
| {{left|f'''a'''ther}}
| {{IPA|/ɑː/}}
|-
| {{big|''air''}} ||
| {{left|b'''ear''', M'''ar'''y}}
| {{IPA|/ɛər/}}
|-
| {{big|''ar''}} || 
| {{left|f'''ar'''ther}}
| {{IPA|/ɑːr/}}
|-
| {{big|''arr''}} ||
| {{left|m'''arr'''y}}
| {{IPA|/ær/}}
|-
| {{big|''aw''}} ||
| {{left|b'''ough'''t}}
| {{IPA|/ɔː/}}
|-
| {{big|''ay''}} ||
| {{left|b'''ai'''t}}
| {{IPA|/eɪ/}}
|-
| {{big|''e''}} || <ref name="checked"/>
| {{left|b'''e'''t}}
| rowspan="2" | {{IPA|/ɛ/}}
|-
| {{big|''eh''}} || <ref>{{IPA|/ɛ/}} in syllable-final positions may be respelled ''eh'' instead of ''e'' when otherwise it may be misinterpreted as another sound such as {{IPA|/i(ː)/}} or {{IPA|/eɪ/}}.</ref>
| {{left|pr'''e'''stige}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|''ee''}} || rowspan="2" |
| {{left|b'''ea'''t}}
| {{IPA|/iː/}}
|-
| {{left|happ'''y''', ser'''i'''ous}}
| {{IPA|/i/}}
|-
| {{big|''eer''}} ||
| {{left|b'''eer''', n'''ear'''er}}
| {{IPA|/ɪər/}}
|-
| {{big|''err''}} ||
| {{left|m'''err'''y}}
| {{IPA|/ɛr/}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|''ew''}} || rowspan="2" | <ref name="ew">''ew'' and ''ure'' are for when {{IPA|/ju(ː)/}} or {{IPA|/jʊər/}} takes place right after a consonant within the same syllable. When {{IPA|/ju(ː)/}} or {{IPA|/jʊər/}} begins a syllable (e.g. "youth", "Europe", "value"), use ''yoo(r)''—unless it is subject to [[yod-dropping]] or [[yod-coalescence]]: "Lithuania" {{respell|LITH|ew|AY|nee|ə|link=no}}.</ref>
| {{left|c'''u'''te, b'''eau'''ty, d'''ew'''}}
| {{IPA|/juː/}}
|-
| {{left|int'''u'''ition, Lith'''u'''ania}}
| {{IPA|/ju/}}
|-
| {{big|''eye''}} || <ref name="eye">{{IPA|/aɪ/}} is respelled ''eye'' when it begins a syllable or is preceded by {{IPA|/j/}} and otherwise ''y''. When ''y'' is placed between consonants within the same syllable, place an ''e'' at the end of the syllable as necessary: "tight" {{respell|TYTE|link=no}}.</ref>
| {{left|'''i'''tem, y'''i'''kes}}
| rowspan="2" | {{IPA|/aɪ/}}
|-
| {{big|''y''}} || <ref name="eye"/>
| {{left|b'''i'''te, b'''i'''de, sk'''y'''}}
|-
| {{big|''i''}} || <ref name="checked"/>
| {{left|b'''i'''t}}
| rowspan="2" | {{IPA|/ɪ/}}
|-
| {{big|''ih''}} || <ref>{{IPA|/ɪ/}} in syllable-final positions may be respelled ''ih'' instead of ''i'' when otherwise it may be misinterpreted as another sound such as {{IPA|/aɪ/}}.</ref>
| {{left|h'''i'''storic}}
|-
| {{big|''ire''}} ||
| {{left|h'''ire'''}}
| {{IPA|/aɪər/}}
|-
| {{big|''irr''}} ||
| {{left|m'''irr'''or}}
| {{IPA|/ɪr/}}
|-
| {{big|''o''}} || <ref name="checked"/>
| {{left|b'''o'''t}}
| {{IPA|/ɒ/}}
|-
| {{big|''oh''}} ||
| {{left|b'''oa'''t}}
| {{IPA|/oʊ/}}
|-
| {{big|''oir''}} ||
| {{left|c'''oir'''}}
| {{IPA|/ɔɪər/}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{big|''oo''}} || rowspan="2" |
| {{left|b'''oo'''t, y'''ou'''}}
| {{IPA|/uː/}}
|-
| {{left|infl'''u'''ence, fr'''u'''ition}}
| {{IPA|/u/}}
|-
| {{big|''oor''}} ||
| {{left|p'''oor''', t'''our'''ist}}
| {{IPA|/ʊər/}}
|-
| {{big|''or''}} ||
| {{left|h'''or'''se, h'''oar'''se, p'''our''', f'''or'''um}}
| {{IPA|/ɔːr/}}
|-
| {{big|''orr''}} ||
| {{left|m'''or'''al}}
| {{IPA|/ɒr/}}
|-
| {{big|''our''}} ||
| {{left|fl'''our'''}}
| {{IPA|/aʊər/}}
|-
| {{big|''ow''}} ||
| {{left|b'''ou'''t, v'''ow'''}}
| {{IPA|/aʊ/}}
|-
| {{big|''oy''}} ||
| {{left|ch'''oi'''ce, b'''oy'''}}
| {{IPA|/ɔɪ/}}
|-
| {{big|''u''}} || <ref name="checked"/>
| {{left|b'''u'''t}}
| rowspan="2" | {{IPA|/ʌ/}}
|-
| {{big|''uh''}} || <ref>{{IPA|/ʌ/}} in syllable-final positions is respelled ''uh'' instead of ''u'' to better distinguish it from {{IPA|/u(ː), ʊ/}}.</ref>
| {{left|fr'''u'''stration}}
|-
| {{big|''ur''}} ||
| {{left|b'''ir'''d, f'''urr'''y}}
| {{IPA|/ɜːr/}}
|-
| {{big|''ure''}} || <ref name="ew"/>
| {{left|c'''ure''', n'''eur'''al}}
| {{IPA|/jʊər/}}
|-
| {{big|''urr''}} ||
| {{left|h'''urr'''y}}
| {{IPA|/ʌr/}}
|-
| {{big|''uu''}} || <ref name="checked"/>
| {{left|b'''oo'''k}}
| {{IPA|/ʊ/}}
|-
| {{big|''uurr''}} ||
| {{left|c'''our'''ier}}
| {{IPA|/ʊr/}}
|-
| {{big|''ə''}} ||
| {{left|'''a'''bout, comm'''a'''}}
| {{IPA|/ə/}}
|-
| {{big|''ər''}} ||
| {{left|lett'''er'''}}
| {{IPA|/ər/}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float: left; text-align:center;"
|+ [[Consonant]]s
! colspan=2 | Rspl.
! class="unsortable" | Example(s)
! [[Help:IPA/English|IPA]]
|-
| {{big|''b''}} ||
| {{left|'''b'''uy}}
| {{IPA|/b/}}
|-
| {{big|''ch''}} || <ref name="tch">{{IPA|/tʃ/}} after a vowel in the same syllable is respelled ''tch'' instead of ''ch'' to better distinguish it from {{IPA|/k, x/}}.</ref>
| {{left|'''ch'''urch, na'''t'''ure}}
| rowspan="2" | {{IPA|/tʃ/}}
|-
| {{big|''tch''}} || <ref name="tch"/>
| {{left|chur'''ch''', na'''t'''ural}}
|-
| {{big|''d''}} ||
| {{left|'''d'''ye, la'''dd'''er}}
| {{IPA|/d/}}
|-
| {{big|''dh''}} ||
| {{left|'''th'''y, '''th'''is}}
| {{IPA|/ð/}}
|-
| {{big|''f''}} ||
| {{left|'''f'''ight}}
| {{IPA|/f/}}
|-
| {{big|''g''}} ||
| {{left|'''g'''o}}
| rowspan="2" | {{IPA|/ɡ/}}
|-
| {{big|''gh''}} || <ref>{{IPA|/ɡ/}} may be respelled ''gh'' instead of ''g'' when otherwise it may be misinterpreted as {{IPA|/dʒ/}}.</ref>
| {{left|'''g'''uess, '''g'''uitar}}
|-
| {{big|''h''}} ||
| {{left|'''h'''igh}}
| {{IPA|/h/}}
|-
| {{big|''j''}} ||
| {{left|'''j'''ive}}
| {{IPA|/dʒ/}}
|-
| {{big|''k''}} ||
| {{left|'''k'''ite, s'''k'''y, lo'''ck'''}}
| {{IPA|/k/}}
|-
| {{big|''kh''}} ||
| {{left|lo'''ch''', '''Ch'''anukah}}
| {{IPA|/x/}}
|-
| {{big|''l''}} ||
| {{left|'''l'''ie, s'''l'''y}}
| {{IPA|/l/}}
|-
| {{big|''m''}} ||
| {{left|'''m'''y}}
| {{IPA|/m/}}
|-
| {{big|''n''}} ||
| {{left|'''n'''igh}}
| {{IPA|/n/}}
|-
| {{big|''ng''}} ||
| {{left|ri'''ng''', si'''ng'''er}}
| {{IPA|/ŋ/}}
|-
| {{big|''nk''}} || <ref>{{IPA|/ŋk/}} is respelled ''nk'' rather than ''ngk'', since the assimilation is mandatory, except beyond a syllable boundary: "tinker" {{respell|TING|kər|link=no}}.</ref>
| {{left|si'''nk'''}}
| {{IPA|/ŋk/}}
|-
| {{big|''p''}} ||
| {{left|'''p'''ie, s'''p'''y}}
| {{IPA|/p/}}
|-
| {{big|''r''}} ||
| {{left|'''r'''ye, t'''r'''y}}
| {{IPA|/r/}}
|-
| {{big|''s''}} ||
| {{left|'''s'''igh}}
| rowspan="2" | {{IPA|/s/}}
|-
| {{big|''ss''}} || <ref>{{IPA|/s/}} may be respelled ''ss'' instead of ''s'' when otherwise it may be misinterpreted as {{IPA|/z/}}: "ice" {{respell|EYESS|link=no}}, "tense" {{respell|TENSS|link=no}} (compare ''eyes'', ''tens'').</ref>
| {{left|i'''c'''e, ten'''s'''e}}
|-
| {{big|''sh''}} ||
| {{left|'''sh'''y}}
| {{IPA|/ʃ/}}
|-
| {{big|''t''}} ||
| {{left|'''t'''ie, s'''t'''y, la'''tt'''er}}
| {{IPA|/t/}}
|-
| {{big|''th''}} ||
| {{left|'''th'''igh}}
| {{IPA|/θ/}}
|-
| {{big|''v''}} ||
| {{left|'''v'''ine}}
| {{IPA|/v/}}
|-
| {{big|''w''}} ||
| {{left|'''w'''ine}}
| {{IPA|/w/}}
|-
| {{big|''wh''}} ||
| {{left|'''wh'''ine}}
| {{IPA|/hw/}}
|-
| {{big|''y''}} ||
| {{left|'''y'''ou}}
| {{IPA|/j/}}
|-
| {{big|''z''}} ||
| {{left|'''z'''oo}}
| {{IPA|/z/}}
|-
| {{big|''zh''}} ||
| {{left|plea'''s'''ure}}
| {{IPA|/ʒ/}}
|}
{{clear}}

===Syllables and stress===
Respelled [[syllable]]s are visually separated by hyphens ("-"), and the [[stress (linguistics)|stress]] on a syllable is indicated by capital letters. 
* For example, the word "pronunciation" ({{IPAc-en|p|r|ə|ˌ|n|ʌ|n|s|i|ˈ|eɪ|ʃ|ən}}) is respelled {{respell|prə|NUN|see|AY|shən|link=no}}. In this example, the primary and secondary stress are not distinguished because the difference is automatic.

In both IPA and respelling, a word should not have secondary stress following primary stress (contrary to some, particularly North American, sources).