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English JSSCE Notes

Vowels /ei/

VOWEL /ei /

This is a diphthong. The articulation of /ei/ starts with a sound whose quality is like that of /e/ and ends with another sound which has the quality of /i/. The lips are ‘spread’ for the production of /ei/. The common spelling symbols are shown below:

‘a’ e.g. face, lame, bane, mate.

‘ai’ e.g. rain, main, lain, gain.

‘ay’ e.g. pay, way, ray, may.

‘ei’  e.g. eight

‘ey’ e.g. they

‘ea’ e.g. break.

Learners of English often pronounce /ei/ as /e/. This is an error in pronunciation which you should always avoid.

Now, pronounce the following pairs of words which show the contrast between /e/ and /ei/ clearly.

 /e/                                                      /ei/

Let                                                      late

  Fell                                                     fail  

    Men                                                   main

       Wet                                                    wait

           West                                                  waist

               Get                                                      gate

EVALUATION:

Indicate the vowel used in each of the following words. Enclose the vowel symbols in slanting lines.

  1. Plait
  2. Wait
  3. Head
  4. Break
  5. Tape
  6. Pass

ASSIGNMENT:

Look at the words listed below and identify those that contain vowel /ei/.

  1. Main
  2. Way
  3. Gain
  4. Leave
  5. Quay
  6. Take
  7. Chair
  8. Pair
  9. Pail
  10. Made.

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