Some Pronunciation Rules for English Words

Y" is pronounced either as [ai] or [i:].

1. In a one-syllable word, "y" is pronounced as [ai].
my by fly shy try cry fry sky
2. In a two-syllable word, "y" is pronounced as [i:].
party puppy candy bunny funny pony turkey happy cherry tiny penny city baby

"C" is pronounced either as [s] or [k].

1. When "C" is followed by "E" or "I/Y," it is pronounced [c].
cent cell cellar center ice
2. When "C" is followed by "o", "u" "a," it is pronounced as [k].
country cold cup cut curb couple computer
The city has cement.
The country has corn.

G is pronounced as follows:
1. When "G" is followed by "E," "I," or "Y," it is pronounced as []
giant gym danger stranger
2. When "G" is followed by "U/O," or "A," it is pronounced as [g].
gum gun gap gas garden Wagon strangle stranger
Exceptions: give, get, girl

Pronunciation of vowel letters

1. Long "a" and short "a"
e.g. cap - cape
-at cat bat hat rat fat
-ad sad bad mad
-ag bag tag
-an can fan ran
-am ham jam yam
-ap map nap tap
If "E" is at the end of the word, "A" is pronounced as a long vowel.
gate take rake base race face wave cage
ending in "r" - car jar far

2. Long "i" and short "i"

-id lid kid did
-ig pig big dig wig
-in pin tin bin win
-ip lip rip dip tip
-it hit sit fit
If "E" is at the end of the word, "I" is pronounced as a long vowel.
kite bike ride

3. Long "o" and short "o"

-og dog fog jog
-op pop hop top mop

-ot hot got pot not

-ob sob mob job
If "E" is at the end of the word, "O" is pronounced as a long vowel.
rose hope pole

4. Long "u" and short "u"

-ut nut cut up cup put
-ub cub tub
-us bus
-un fun sun run
-ug bug hug
If "E" is at the end of the word, "O" is pronounced as a long vowel.
tune cube cute

Rule #1: CVC rule.

[CVC = Consonant-Vowel-Consonant] - The vowel is short!
Examples: rat, hen, sit, not, cut
Rule #2: CVC + silent e rule - The vowel is long!
Example: rate, here, site, note, cute
Rule #6: double consonant rule: There's a SHORT VOWEL before a double consonant.
Dinner vs. diner
Hopping vs. hoping
Supper vs. super
NOTE: there are many exceptions to this rule. SOME EXCEPTIONS: caller, stalling,
falling, etc.

Rule #7: CV rule

Explanation: If the word ends in a vowel, it is usually long.
Examples: he, me, we, hi, go, no, so, flu / Exceptions: to, do, ma, ska

Ch Rule(s)
Pure-English Words

Greek-English Words

French-English Words

"ch" = /ts/

"ch" = /k/

"ch" = /s/

champion

ache

champagne (wine)

chalk

stomach

chauffeur (driver)

cherry

chemistry

Cheri (name)

chip

chiropractor

chic (cool)

chop

chorus / choir

Chopin (name)

church

Christmas

NOTE: there are some exceptions, like the English word "channel" is from French, but
it has the pure-English pronunciation.

Vowel Teams (or Vowel Strings) with more than 1 sound

'ea' (short e sound); bread, breath, dead, death, head, lead, read, wealth,
'ea' (long e sound); bead, beat, breathe, eat, heat, lead, leak, meat, neat, read, treat,
weak, wheat
'ea' (long a sound); break, great, steak
'ew' ( /u:/ ); dew, blew, chew, crew, flew, grew, knew
'ew' ( /ju:/ ); few, new, pew
'oo' (short sound /u/); book, foot, good, hood, look, took, wood,
'oo' ( /u:/ ); balloon, cartoon, goose, loose, moon, noon, root

'oo' (schwa sound /A/); blood, flood

'oo' (long o sound); floor, door
'ou' ('au' "short" sound); house, louse, mouse
'ou' ('ou' "long" sound); though
'ou' (schwa sound /A/); enough, rough, tough
'ow' ('au' "short" sound); brown, cow, how, now, wow
'ow' ('ou' "long" sound); blow, flow, grow, know, low, sow, tow

http://leonsplanet.com/phono.htm