Lips
Start mid-open, as for "eh". As the sound glides, your lips close a little and spread slightly. The diagram shows the starting shape; the sound keeps moving from there.
Diphthongs
/eɪ/as in face
One gliding sound: start on a strong "eh" and slide up to a light "ee". It's a single vowel, not two.
Example words: face, day, rain, name, play
Accent
Mouth
How do you pronounce the /eɪ/ sound?
Tongue
Start mid-front. While the voice is still going, glide the tongue up and forward toward the high-front "ee" position.
Length
Fairly long. Spend most of the time on the "eh" start; the "ee" ending is quick and light.
Video lesson
Try it
- Open to mid position and start a clear, strong "eh".
- While the sound continues, glide your tongue up and forward toward "ee".
- Keep the ending light: the start carries the weight, the finish just fades in.
- Try it in words: face, day, rain.
Check
Record yourself saying "day" slowly. You should hear one smooth slide from "eh" into "ee". If you hear two separate beats, or a flat "deh" with no movement, do it again in one motion.
Common trap
Splitting it into two beats ("eh-ee"), or freezing on the "eh" with no glide at all, so "day" comes out as a flat "deh".
Practice: /eɪ/
Words
facefˈeɪs
daydˈeɪ
rainɹˈeɪn
namenˈeɪm
playplˈeɪ
Sentences
We can play games on a rainy day.wˌi kæn plˈeɪ ɡˈeɪmz ˌɔn ɐ ɹˈeɪni dˈeɪ.
They came to the station late again.ðˌeɪ kˈeɪm tə ðə stˈeɪʃən lˈeɪt əɡˈɛn.
Please say your name slowly.plˈiz sˈeɪ jʊɹ nˈeɪm slˈoʊli.
The train leaves at eight today.ðə tɹˈeɪn lˈivz æt ˈeɪt tədˈeɪ.
I made a cake for her birthday.ˌaɪ mˌeɪd ɐ kˈeɪk fɔɹ hɜɹ bˈɜɹθdˌeɪ.
Words
facefˈeɪs
daydˈeɪ
rainɹˈeɪn
namenˈeɪm
playplˈeɪ
Sentences
We can play games on a rainy day.wˌiː kan plˈeɪ ɡˈeɪmz ˌɒn ɐ ɹˈeɪni dˈeɪ.
They came to the station late again.ðˌeɪ kˈeɪm tə ðə stˈeɪʃən lˈeɪt əɡˈɛn.
Please say your name slowly.plˈiːz sˈeɪ jɔː nˈeɪm slˈəʊli.
The train leaves at eight today.ðə tɹˈeɪn lˈiːvz at ˈeɪt tədˈeɪ.
I made a cake for her birthday.ˌaɪ mˌeɪd ɐ kˈeɪk fɔː hɜː bˈɜːθdeɪ.
🔊 plays the app's native voice. 🎤 records you so you can play it back next to it. Your recording stays in your browser.
Sounds in the same group
Is /eɪ/ one of yours?
Accenty listens to you speak and shows the sounds you miss, in American or British English.
