How pronunciation is notated: vowels

This site uses the SAMPA system of phonetic notation, although with some trivial modifications. (I leave capital letters on three nasalized vowels whereas SAMPA changes those letters to lower case [a, e, o] when nasalized.)

SAMPA consists of conventional ASCII (keyboard) characters that resemble the international standard IPA characters that describe language sounds (phonemes). Therefore SAMPA symbols can be typed on standard keyboards whereas many IPA symbols and dictionary symbols cannot, which makes SAMPA ideal for Internet usage. Each phonetic symbol, whether from SAMPA or not, represents a single language phoneme, just like the pronunciation symbols used in dictionaries.

The table below compares some phonetic symbols used in different phonetic systems, and gives examples of words that use each phoneme symbol. This table contains all existing English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish phonemes except for the common consonants that are obviously identical in those languages and have obvious IPA symbols (viz., d, f, g, k, m, p, v).

IPA
symbol 		SAMPA
symbol 		IPA
symbol
name 		Random
House
dictionary
symbol 		English
word examples 		French
word examples 		other language
word examples
i
.
be = /bi:/
bead = /bi:d/
bee = /bi:/
ease = /i:z/
east = /i:st/
equal = /"i:kw@l/
free = /fri:/
happy = /"h{pi/
me = /mi:/
mighty = /"mAIti/
seat = /si:t/
see = /si:/
three = /Tri:/
we = /wi:/
 bis = /bis/
cité = /site/
dix = /dis/
ici = /isi/
idée = /ide/
il = /il/
île = /il/
lyre = /liR/
Paris = /paRi/
si = /si/
silence = /silA~s/
six = /sis/
vie = /vi/
vivre = /vivR/
 GERMAN
bieten = /"bi:t@n/
Brief = /bri:f/
die = /di:/
Kino = /"ki:no/
Krieg = /kri:k/
Lied = /li:t/
nie = /ni:/
privat = /pri"va:t/
Spiegel = /"Spi:g@l/
Spiel = /Spi:l/
wie = /vi:/
wieder = /"vi:d6/
zivil = /tsi"vi:l/
i~
.
.
(none in English) (none in French) PORTUGUESE
fim = /fi~/
sim = /si~/
tinta = /"ti~ta/
y
.
(none in English) brusque = /bRysk/
bûche = /byS/
du = /dy/
fumer = /fyme/
jupe = /Zyp/
lumière = /lymjER/
lune = /lyn/
mur = /myR/
nu = /ny/
rue = /Ry/
sur = /syR/
tu = /ty/
une = /yn/
vêtu = /vety/
 GERMAN
früh = /fry:/
für = /fy:6/
Führer = /"fy:r6/
Gemüse = /g@"my:z@/
grün = /gry:n/
über = /"y:b6/
I
.
big = /bIg/
furniture = /"f3:nItS@r/
him = /hIm/
ill = /Il/
if = /If/
is = /Iz/
kit = /kIt/
mirror = /"mIr@r/
pit = /pIt/
pity = /"pIti/
sit = /sIt/
six = /sIks/
tip = /tIp/
win = /wIn/
(none in French) GERMAN
Bild = /bIlt/
bis = /bIs/
bitten = /"bIt@n/
Blitz = /blIts/
Fisch = /fIS/
frisch = /frIS/
immer = /"Im6/
in = /In/
Kind = /kInt/
mit = /mIt/
Prinz = /prInts/
Schnitzel = /"SnIts@l/
Sitz = /zIts/
Y
.
(none in English) (none in French) GERMAN
Füchse = /"fYks@/
füttern = /"fYt6n/
hübsch = /hYpS/
Hütte = /"hYt@/
Küntze = /"kYnst@/
Kürze = /"kYrts@/
Lüfte = /"lYft@/
Lüste = /"lYst@/
müssen = /"mYs@n/
Müller = /"mYl6/
Stück = /StYk/
System = /zYs"te:m/
e
.
against = /@"genst/
bed = /bed/
bread = /bred/
ebb = /eb/
egg = /eg/
end = /end/
get = /get/
leg = /leg/
men = /men/
merry = /"meri/
pet = /pet/
said = /sed/
set = /set/
ten = /ten/
 blé = /ble/
chez = /Se/
déjà = /deZa/
échecs = /eSEk/
éclair = /eklER/
élève = /elEv/
et = /e/
état = /eta/
été = /ete/
frappé = /fRape/
jouer = /Zwe/
marcher = /maRSe/
résumé = /Rezyme/
ses = /se/
 GERMAN
Beet = /be:t/
beten = /"be:t@n/
dem = /de:m/
geben = /"ge:b@n/
gehen = /"ge:@n/
Leben = /"le:b@n/
Meer = /me:6/
mehr = /me:6/
sehr = /ze:6/
Weg = /ve:k/
wehren = /"ve:r@n/
2
phi
(none in English) aveu = /av2/
deux = /d2/
Europe = /2ROp/
eux = /2/
feu = /f2/
gueuse = /g2z/
gueux = /g2/
jeudi = /Z2di/
neurone = /n2ROn/
noeud = /n2/
peu = /p2/
peut-être = /p2tEtR/
vieux = /vj2/
voeu = /v2/
 GERMAN
blöd = /bl2:t/
Höhle = /"h2:l@/
lösen = /"l2:z@n/
mögen = /"m2:g@n/
möglich = /"m2:klIC/
Löwe = /"l2:v@/
Öfen = /"2:f@n/
Öhr = /2:6/
schön = /S2:n/
Verhör = /fEr"h2:6/
E
epsilon . (none in English) crème = /kREm/
crêpe = /kREp/
elle = /El/
est = /E/
fait = /fE/
fer = /fER/
fête = /fEt/
jouet = /ZwE/
lait = /lE/
mais = /mE/
mer = /mER/
merci = /mERsi/
rêve = /REv/
seize = /SEz/
 GERMAN
betten = /"bEt@n/
denn = /dEn/
verlieren = /fEr"li:r@n/
Gesetz = /g@"zEts/
Käse = /"kE:z@/
Kerl = /kErl/
März = /mErts/
spät = /SpE:t/
Stern = /StErn/
währen = /"vE:r@n/
Welt = /vElt/
wenn = /vEn/
Werk = /vErk/
E~
.
(none in English) cinq = /sE~k/
insecte = /E~sEkt/
international = /E~tERnasjOnal/
lapin = /lapE~/
latin = /latE~/
linge = /lE~Z/
lingerie = /lE~ZRi/
main = /mE~/
matin = /matE~/
moins = /mwE~/
pin = /pE~/
plein = /plE~/
singe = /sE~Z/
vin = /vE~/
 GERMAN
Bassin = /ba"sE~/
{
.
act = /{kt/
apple = /"{p@l/
ask = /{sk/
at = /{t/
bat = /b{t/
can = /k{n/
cat = /k{t/
fat = /f{t/
marry = /"m{ri/
mat = /m{t/
pat = /p{t/
sandwich = /"s{ndwItS/
sat = /s{t/
trap = /tr{p/
(none in French) (none in German)
(none in Portuguese)
(none in Spanish)
a
.
(none in English) à = /a/
ami = /ami/
avoir = /avWaR/
femme = /fam/
foi = /fwa/
fois = /fwa/
la = /la/
moi = /mwa/
place = /plas/
patte = /pat/
plat = /pla/
toi = /twa/
voilà = /vwala/
voix = /vwa/
 GERMAN
aber = /"a:b6/
am = /am/
Blatt = /blat/
Garten = /"gart6n/
Gast = /gast/
Kampf = /kampf/
Kraft = /kraft/
Mal = /ma:l/
Mann = /man/
Satz = /zats/
Tabak = /"tabak/
Tag = /ta:k/
Wal = /va:l/
@
schwa
above = /@"bVv/
ago = /@"goU/
alone = /@"loUn/
along = /@"lO:ng/
America = /@"merIk@/
another = /@"nVD@r/
banana = /b@"n{n@/
circus = /"s3:k@s/
common = /"kO:m@n/
compose = /k@m"poUz/
easily = /"i:z@li/
gallop = /"g{l@p/
lemon = /"lem@n/
system = /"sIst@m/
 ce = /s@/
ceci = /s@si/
cela = /s@la/
celui = /s@lHi/
cependant = /s@pA~dA~/
exactement = /Egzakt@mA~/
grenouille = /gR@nuj/
justement = /Zyst@mA~/
le = /l@/
premier = /pR@mje/
reprise = /R@pRiZ/
repos = /R@po/
retard = /R@taR/
retourner = /R@tuRne/
 GERMAN
alle = /"al@/
beleben = /b@"leb@n/
bitte = /"bIt@/
halten = /"halt@n/
Karte = /"kart@/
Kirche = /"kIrC@/
Klasse = /"klas@/
Marke = /"mark@/
Ratte = /"rat@/
Schule = /"Su:l@/
Turnen = /"tUrn@n/
vergessen = /fEr"gEs@n/
3
.
bird = /b3:d/
burn = /b3:n/
burr = /b3:/
cur = /k3:/
earn = /3:n/
fern = /f3:n/
fir = /f3:/
first = f3:st/
furs = f3:z/
irk = /3:k/
nurse = /n3:s/
urge = /3:dZ/
urn = /3:n/
work = /w3:k/
(none in French) (none in German)
(none in Portuguese)
(none in Spanish)
6
open
schwa
.
(none in English) (none in French) GERMAN
Alter = /"alt6/
besser = /"bEs6/
Bart = /ba:6t/
Bier = /bi:6/
der = /de:6/
dir = /di:6/
Haar = /ha:6/
hier = /hi:6/
Messer = /"mEs6/
mir = /mi:6/
Ritter = /"rIt6/
Vater = /"fa:t6/
Wasser = /"vas6/
U
.
book = /bUk/
could = /kUd/
foot = /fUt/
full = /fUl/
good = /gUd/
hood = /hUd/
hook = /hUk/
look = /lUk/
pull = /pUl/
put = /pUt/
should = /SUd/
soot = /sUt/
wood = /wUd/
would = /wUd/
(none in French) GERMAN
dumm = /dUm/
Fuchs = /fUks/
kaputt = /ka"pUt/
Klub = /klUp/
Kuntz = /kUnst/
kurz = /kUrts/
Luft = /lUft/
Lust = /lUst/
Mutter = /"mUt6/
Nummer = /"nUm6/
Putte = /"pUt@/
Schutz = /SUts/
unter = /"Unt6/
u
.
blue = /blu:/
boon = /bu:n/
cool = /ku:l/
do = /du:/
food = /fu:d/
fool = /fu:l/
lose = /lu:z/
moon = /mu:n/
ooze = /u:z/
soon = /su:n/
to = /tu:/
too = /tu:/
tool = /tu:l/
zoo = /zu:/
 bouche = /buS/
douce = /dus/
douche = /duS/
doux = /du/
fou = /fu/
genou = /Z@nu/
goût = /gu/
loup = /lu/
mou = /mu/
nous = /nu/
ou = /u/
ouvrir = /uvRiR/
roue = /Ru/
trou = /tRu/
 GERMAN
Blut = /blu:t/
Fuß = /fu:s/
genug = /g@"nu:k/
gut = /gu:t/
Kuh = /ku:/
Schuh = /Su:/
u~
.
.
(none in English) (none in French) PORTUGUESE
funcionar = /fu~sion"naR/
um = /u~/
o
.
ago = /@"goU/
boat = /boUt/
go = /goU/
low = /loU/
no = /noU/
nose = /noUz/
ode = /oUd/
old = /oUld/
open = /"oUp@n/
over = /"oUv@r/
slow = /sloU/
snow = /snoU/
so = /soU/
toe = /toU/
 au = /o/
bateau = /bato/
beau = /bo/
chapeau = /Sapo/
côte = /kot/
dôme = /dom/
eau = /o/
escargot = /EskaRgo/
gauche = /goS/
gros = /gRo/
haut = /o/
hôtel = /otEl/
mot = /mo/
pauvre = /povR/
 GERMAN
Brot = /bro:t/
Obst = /o:pst/
oder = /"o:d6/
Polizei = /poli"tsaI/
rot = /ro:t/
so = /zo:/
V
.
but = /bVt/
come = /kVm/
cut = /kVt/
fun = /fVn/
gun = /gVn/
honey = /"hVni/
love = /lVv/
money = /"mVni/
of = /Vv/
strut = /strVt/
sun = /sVn/
under = /"Vnd@r/
undone = /Vn"dVn/
up = /Vp/
(none in French) (none in German)
(none in Portuguese)
(none in Spanish)
O
.
awful = /"O:f@l/
awl = /O:l/
ball = /bO:l/
bawl = /bO:l/
born = /bO:rn/
cause = /kO:z/
cord = /kO:rd/
cork = /kO:rk/
fork = /fO:rk/
law = /lO:/
ought = /O:t/
raw = /rO:/
saw = /sO:/
thought = /TO:t/
 comme = /kOm/
coq = /kOk/
cordon = /kORdO~/
corps = /kOR/
dommage = /dOmaZ/
donner = /dOne/
école = /ekOl/
encore = /O~kOR/
mort = /mOR/
nord = /nOR/
objet = /ObZE/
obliger = /ObliZe/
octobre = /OktObR/
or = /OR/
 GERMAN
Kartoffel = /kar"tOf@l/
Kopf = /kOpf/
ob = /Op/
Roß = /rOs/
Sommer = /"zOm6/
Trotz = /trOts/
O~
.
(none in English) bon = /bO~/
Dom = /dO~/
don = /dO~/
donc = /dO~k/
mon = /mO~/
monde = /mO~d/
mont = /mO~/
non = /nO~/
ombre = /O~bR/
on = /O~/
oncle = /O~kl/
onde = /O~d/
son = /sO~/
tomber = /tO~be/
 GERMAN
Bonbon = /bO~"bO~:/
A
.
ah = /A:/
alms = /A:mz/
art = /A:rt/
bar = /bA:r/
bard = /bA:rd/
barn = /bA:rn/
calm = /kA:m/
car = /kA:r/
card = /kA:rd/
far = /fA:r/
farm = /fA:rm/
father = /fA:D@r/
palm = /pA:m/
tar = /tA:r/
 bas = /bA/
cadre = /kAdR/
cas = /kA/
classe = /klAs/
gras = /gRA/
mâchure = /mASyR/
mâtin = /mAtE~/
pas = /pA/
pâte = /pAt/
pâté = /pAte/
pâture = /pAtyR/
ras = /RA/
raser = /RAze/
tasse = /tAs/
 (none in German)
(none in Portuguese)
(none in Spanish)
A~
.
(none in English) banco = /bA~ko/
blanc = /blA~/
cent = /sA~/
croissant = /kRwasA~/
en = /A~/
enfant = /A~fA~/
franc = /fRA~/
français = /fRA~sE/
passant = /pAsA~/
restaurant = /REstOrA~/
sans = /sA~/
temps = /tA~/
vendre = /vA~dR/
vent = /vA~/
 GERMAN
Balance = /ba"lA~s/
Q
.
bother = /"bQD@r/
box = /bQks/
cot = /kQt/
fond = /fQnd/
not = /nQt/
odd = /Qd/
on = /Qn/
ox = /Qks/
pot = /pQt/
stop = /stQp/
top = /tQp/
wash = /wQS/
wasp = /wQsp/
watch = /wQtS/
(none in French) (none in German)
(none in Portuguese)
(none in Spanish)
9
. . (none in English) aveuglant = /av9glA~/
aveugle = /av9gl/
boeuf = /b9f/
coeur = /k9R/
docteur = /dOkt9R/
fleur = /fl9R/
fleuve = /fl9v/
gueule = /g9l/
leur = /l9R/
meuble = /m9bl/
neuf = /n9f/
neuve = /n9v/
peur = /p9R/
soeur = /s9R/
 GERMAN
plötzlich = /"pl9tslIC/
9~
.
(none in English) à jeun = /a Z9~/
aucun = /ok9~/
brun = /bR9~/
chacun = /Sak9~/
commun = /kOm9~/
humble = /9~bl/
Hun = /9~/
lundi = /l9~di/
Melun = /m@l9~/
parfum = /paRf9~/
quelques-uns = /kElk@z9~/
quelqu'un = /kElk9~/
un = /9~/
Verdun = /vERd9~/
 GERMAN
Parfum = /par"f9~/

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Updated: October 30, 2004
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