/ɑɪ/

LISTEN

/ɑɪ/…/ɑɪ/…/ɑɪ/…/ɑɪ/

light…pie…sign…mi​le

WHAT IS IT?

Pronunciation:

The sound /ɑɪ/ is a diphthong. This means your mouth should move from one position to another.

  • Lower your jaw and tongue and make your lips very open and wide (as for /ɑ/). Your tongue should be low, tight, and pulled backwards.
  • Breathe out and let your vocal cords vibrate.
  • As you breathe out, quickly raise your tongue and spread your lips widely (as for /ɪ/).

This vowel is usually stressed, as in these words.

  • lightly
  • highway
  • decide

However, /ɑɪ/ can also be unstressed, as in these words:

  • flashlight
  • satisfy
  • idea

Spelling:

  • “i”(e) – line, mile
  • “igh” – light, high
  • “ie” – pie, died
  • “y” – my, type
  • “uy” (not common) – guy, buy
  • “ei” (not common) – feisty, heist
  • “eigh” (not common) – height

Grammar Tip:

The sound /ɑɪ/ is part of the common suffixes “-ify/-efy,” and “-ize”, which are used to form some verbs. These suffixes are usually unstressed.

  • realize
  • criticize
  • magnetize

COMPARE

Compare /ɑɪ/ with /ɑ/:

/ɑɪ/…/ɑ/…/ɑɪ/…/ɑ/…/ɑɪ/…/ɑ/

The sound /ɑ/ is a low, central vowel. The sound /ɑɪ/ starts as /ɑ/, but it moves quickly into a high, front vowel.

You can hear the difference between /ɑɪ/ and /ɑ/ in these words.​

​1. A. light, B. lot​
2. A. ride, B. rod
3. A. like, B. lock
4. A. swipe, B. swap
5. A. fire, B. far
​6. A. blind, B. blond

Practice recognizing words with /ɑɪ/ and /ɑ/ by taking the quiz here (external link).

Now, compare /ɑɪ/ and /iy/:

/ɑɪ/…/iy/…/ɑɪ/…/iy/…/ɑɪ/…/iy/

The sound /ɪ/ is a high, front, tense vowel. The sound /ɑɪ/ starts as a low, central, tense vowel, but it moves quickly to a high, front, lax vowel.

You can hear the difference between /ɑɪ/ and /iy/ in these words.

​1. A. fight, B. feet
2. A. lice, B. lease
3. A. bike, B. beak
4. A. died, B. deed
​5. A. tire, B. tear
6. A. style, B. steal

Practice recognizing words with /ɑɪ/ and /iy/ by taking the quiz here (external link).

PRACTICE

Listen and repeat these words:

1. my
2. sight
3. type
4. rice
5. cry
6. ride
7. like
8. kind
9. fire
10. style

11. crisis
12. bicycle
13. timing
14. arrival
15. idea
16. isolation
17. realize
18. finally
19. inspiring
20. environment

Now practice /ɑɪ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.

1. I – find – ​my – flashlight
I can’t find my flashlight.
2. describe – guy – tried
Can you describe the guy who tried to follow you?
3. decide – kind – buy 
I can’t decide what kind of food to buy.
4. fire – inside – ice
A fire started inside the ice cream shop.
5. like – drive – ride
Would you like to drive or just ride?
6. idea – why – fighting
​Do you have any idea why they’re fighting?

To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:

Male – US Midwest (St. Louis)

Male – US Midwest (Iowa)

Male – US Midwest

Female – US Northeast

Female – US Southeast

USE IT

Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.

Prepare:
What do you dislike doing?

  • Riding a bicycle
  • Driving a car
  • Crying
  • Arguing about ideas
  • Being outside (or inside)
  • Fighting
  • Flying in an airplane
  • Being in a place with no light
  • Writing a paper for school
  • Being isolated (away from people)
  • Lighting a fire
  • Trying to be stylish

​​Record:
Describe 3 things that you dislike doing and explain why you dislike them.

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©2024, Christine Wingate

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