/ɪ/

LISTEN

/ɪ/…/ɪ/…/ɪ/…/ɪ/

sit…pick…listen…middle

/

WHAT IS IT?

Pronunciation:
The sound /ɪ/ is a high, front, lax ​vowel.

  • Lift your tongue to the top of your mouth.
  • Spread your lips wide, like a smile.
  • Let your tongue relax
  • Breathe out and let your vocal cords vibrate.

This vowel is usually stressed, as in these words:

  • middle
  • listen
  • convince

However, /ɪ/ can also be unstressed. In an unstressed syllable, /ɪ/ is pronounced quickly and softly.

  • artist
  • looking
  • impossible

Spelling:

  • “i”  – it, little
  • “y” – symbol, mystery
  • “u” – busy, business 
  • “ui” – build, biscuit

Grammar Tip:
The sound /ɪ/ occurs in the common prefixes “im-“ and “in-“. These prefixes usually occur at the beginning of a verb or adjective. The vowel /ɪ/ is usually unstressed in the prefix, though not always.

a. “im-“:

  • ​important
  • impossible
  • improvise

b. “in-“

  • ​infer
  • invite
  • indicate

COMPARE

Compare /ɪ/ with /iy/:

/ɪ/…/iy/…/ɪ/…/iy/…/ɪ/…/iy/


​​These are both high, front vowels. However, /ɪ/ is pronounced with a relaxed tongue and /iy/ is pronounced with a tense tongue.

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

1. A. bit, B. beat
2. A. grin, B. green
​3. A. pill, B. peel
4. A. litter, B. leader
5. A. risen, B. reason
6. A. filling, B. feeling

​Practice recognizing words with /ɪ/ and /iy/ by taking the quiz here (external site).

​Now, compare /ɪ/ with /ɛ/:

/ɪ/…/ɛ/…/ɪ/…/ɛ/…/ɪ/…/ɛ/

These are both lax, front vowels. However, /ɪ/ is a high vowel, and /ɛ/ is a mid vowel.

You can hear the difference between /ɪ/ and /ɛ/ in these words.

1. A. sit, B. set
2. A. lift, B. left
3. A. pin, B. pen
4. A. fill, B. fell
5. A. listen, B. lesson
6. A. bitter, B. better

Practice recognizing words with /ɪ/ and /ɛ/ by taking the quiz here (external site).

PRACTICE

Listen and repeat these words:

1. slip
2. fit
3. sick
4. pig
5. miss
6. give
7. lift
8. sin
9. limb
10. fill

11. slipper
12. blister
13. mitten
14. artist
15. pity
16. winter
17. important
18. convince
19. distribute
20. invisible

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

1. visit – sister – sit – kitchen
When I visit my sister, we sit in the kitchen.
2. sick – picking – mittens
I’m sick of picking up your mittens.
3. lip – sipping – milk
I burned my lip by sipping hot milk.
4. river – isn’t – swim – in
The river isn’t deep enough to swim in.
5. list – picks – film
Can you list your top picks for best film?
6. city – visitor’s – sixth
​We’re at the city visitor’s center on Sixth Street.

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 can you do on a cold winter day? Choose 3 things you’d want to do.

  • Build an igloo or snow fort
  • Stay inside and listen to music
  • Decorate for Christmas​
  • Visit friends
  • Search for interesting icicles
  • Sip a hot drink
  • Build a snowman
  • Make gifts for friends
  • Go downhill skiing
  • Go ice fishing
  • Discover decorating ideas on Pinterest  
  • Learn how to knit

Record:
​Imagine that you’re telling a roommate or family member what you should do together on a winter day. In your recording, present a plan for the day with 3 ideas from the list. Explain each idea with details.

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