Lips
Start with your mouth wide open. As you glide, it closes toward a slight spread. The diagram shows the open starting position.
Diphthongs
/aɪ/as in price
One gliding sound: open wide on a strong "ah", then slide up to a light "ee". One smooth movement, not two syllables.
Example words: price, my, time, night, smile
Accent
Mouth
How do you pronounce the /aɪ/ sound?
Tongue
Start low and open. Glide the tongue up and forward toward the high-front "ee" position while the voice keeps going.
Length
Long. The open "ah" takes most of the time; the "ee" is just a light finish.
Video lesson
Try it
- Drop your jaw and start a big, open "ah".
- Without stopping the voice, glide up and forward toward "ee".
- Make the start long and strong, the ending short and light.
- Try it in words: price, my, time.
Check
Say "my" slowly in front of a mirror. Your jaw should visibly close as the sound moves. If your mouth never moves, you froze on "ah"; if you hear two beats, smooth them into one glide.
Common trap
Breaking it into two beats ("ah-ee"), or stopping on the "ah" with no glide, so "time" sounds like "tahm".
Practice: /aɪ/
Words
pricepɹˈaɪs
mymaɪ
timetˈaɪm
nightnˈaɪt
smilesmˈaɪl
Sentences
I like riding my bike at night.ˌaɪ lˈaɪk ɹˈaɪdɪŋ maɪ bˈaɪk æt nˈaɪt.
The price is quite high this time.ðə pɹˈaɪs ɪz kwˈaɪt hˈaɪ ðɪs tˈaɪm.
My flight arrives at nine tonight.mˌaɪ flˈaɪt əɹˈaɪvz æt nˈaɪn tənˈaɪt.
Try to write five lines by Friday.tɹˈaɪ tə ɹˈaɪt fˈaɪv lˈaɪnz baɪ fɹˈaɪdˌeɪ.
She smiled and said hi to me.ʃˌi smˈaɪld ænd sˈɛd hˈaɪ tə mˌi.
Words
pricepɹˈaɪs
mymaɪ
timetˈaɪm
nightnˈaɪt
smilesmˈaɪl
Sentences
I like riding my bike at night.ˌaɪ lˈaɪk ɹˈaɪdɪŋ maɪ bˈaɪk at nˈaɪt.
The price is quite high this time.ðə pɹˈaɪs ɪz kwˈaɪt hˈaɪ ðɪs tˈaɪm.
My flight arrives at nine tonight.mˌaɪ flˈaɪt əɹˈaɪvz at nˈaɪn tənˈaɪt.
Try to write five lines by Friday.tɹˈaɪ tə ɹˈaɪt fˈaɪv lˈaɪnz baɪ fɹˈaɪdeɪ.
She smiled and said hi to me.ʃˌiː smˈaɪld and sˈɛd hˈaɪ tə mˌiː.
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Sounds in the same group
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