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.