The /e/ Vowel (DRESS)
/e/
/e/ is a front half-open unrounded vowel. It is a short monophthong, so it keeps one steady quality.
Example Words
| Word | UK | US | |
|---|---|---|---|
| bed | /bed/ | /bed/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| ten | /ten/ | /ten/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| many | /ˈmen.i/ | /ˈmen.i/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
Distinctive Features
/e/ is told apart from every other English sound by three distinctive features.
Allophones Of /e/
/e/ has 2 allophones in the app, starting with [ẽ], a vowel followed by a nasal in the same syllable. The full list, where each occurs and the examples are in Allophones, which opens with any course or with Adroit Plus.
Words With The /e/ Sound
/e/ At The Start Of A Word
- any
- ate
- ebb
- egg
- end
- echo
- edge
- edit
- else
- emir
- envy
- epic
- ever
- exit
- elbow
- elder
- elegy
- empty
- enemy
- enter
- entry
- envoy
- error
- essay
- ethic
- every
- exile
- extra
- anyone
- anyway
/e/ In The Middle Of A Word
Minimal Pairs
Minimal Pairs /ɪ/ And /e/ (Bit And Bet)Minimal Pairs /e/ And /æ/ (Bed And Bad)Minimal Pairs /e/ And /eɪ/ (Wet And Wait)
Questions Students Ask
How do you describe the vowel /e/?
/e/ is a front half-open unrounded vowel.
Which words have the /e/ sound?
For example bed, ten, many.