Unit 0
English Alphabet
Alphabet
Introduction
The modern English alphabet consists of 26 letters, 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 21 consonants (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y and z).
Form
The alphabet sounds are represented by graphemes (the letters); orthography is concerned with the correct writing of the graphemes, whereas the sounds (phones) are studied by using phonetics and phonology.
We use the letters of the alphabet to form words. Usually we don’t use more than 3 consecutive consonants without a vowel following in a word.
Each letter has an uppercase and a lowercase form.
| Uppercase | Lowercase | Phonetics | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | a | /eɪ/ | ei |
| B | b | /biː/ | bee |
| C | c | /siː/ | cee |
| D | d | /dɪ/ | dee |
| E | e | /iː/ | ii |
| F | f | /ɛf/ | ef |
| G | g | /ʤiː/ | gee |
| H | h | /eːʧ / | aitch |
| I | i | /aɪ/ | ai |
| J | j | /ʤeɪ/ | jay |
| K | k | /keɪ/ | kay |
| L | l | /ɛl/ | el |
| M | m | /ɛm/ | em |
| N | n | /ɛn/ | en |
| O | o | /oʊ/ | o |
| P | p | /piː/ | pee |
| Q | q | /kjuː/ | qiu |
| R | r | /ɑr/ | ar |
| S | s | /ɛs/ | ess |
| T | t | /tiː/ | tee |
| U | u | /juː/ | iu |
| V | v | /viː/ | vee |
| W | w | /ˈdʌbəl juː/ | double-iu |
| X | x | /ɛks/ | ex |
| Y | y | /waɪ/ | wye |
| Z | z | /zi/ | zi |