SPOKEN ENGLISH : PHONETICS
English Vowel Sounds English has 12 pure vowels (monophthongs) and 8 diphthongs. Monophthongs (12 Pure Vowels): /iː/ - as in seat Tamil equivalent: ஈ (as in ஈகை) /ɪ/ - as in sit Tamil equivalent: இ (shorter than the Tamil இ sound) /e/ - as in bed Tamil equivalent: Similar to எ (but slightly different) /æ/ - as in cat Tamil equivalent: Between அ and ஐ (no exact Tamil equivalent, but closer to அ) /ɑː/ - as in car Tamil equivalent: ஆ (as in ஆடு) /ʌ/ - as in cup Tamil equivalent: Similar to அ (shorter sound) /ɔː/ - as in saw Tamil equivalent: Similar to ஓ (as in ஓட்டம்) /ɒ/ - as in cot Tamil equivalent: Similar to short அ (but slightly different) /ʊ/ - as in foot Tamil equivalent: உ (but shorter) /uː/ - as in food Tamil equivalent: ஊ (as in ஊமை) /ə/ - as in sofa (schwa) Tamil equivalent: Similar to அ (neutral sound) /ɜː/ - as in bird Tamil equivalent: Similar to ஐ, but more extended (no direct Tamil equivalent) Diphthongs (8 Combination Vowels): /eɪ/ - as in say Tamil equiv