The /ɪ/ Vowel (KIT)
/ɪ/
/ɪ/ is a front half-close unrounded vowel. It is a short monophthong, so it keeps one steady quality.
Example Words
| Word | UK | US | |
|---|---|---|---|
| sit | /sɪt/ | /sɪt/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| big | /bɪɡ/ | /bɪɡ/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| city | /ˈsɪt.i/ | /ˈsɪt.i/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
Distinctive Features
/ɪ/ is told apart from every other English sound by four distinctive features.
Allophones Of /ɪ/
/ɪ/ has 2 allophones in the app, starting with [ɪ̃], 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 /ɪ/ Sound
/ɪ/ At The Start Of A Word
- if
- in
- it
- ill
- ink
- its
- emit
- exam
- imam
- inch
- itch
- eject
- elect
- elite
- elope
- elude
- enact
- endow
- enjoy
- enrol
- ensue
- equip
- erase
- erect
- erode
- erupt
- evade
- event
- evict
- evoke
/ɪ/ In The Middle Of A Word
Minimal Pairs
Questions Students Ask
How do you describe the vowel /ɪ/?
/ɪ/ is a front half-close unrounded vowel.
Which words have the /ɪ/ sound?
For example sit, big, city.