Pre-test your /æ/

How familiar are you with the /æ/?

Before I show you how to produce the /æ/, and its spellings, let’s have a look at ten everyday words with an /æ/ sound.

(Note: if you’re not familiar with those symbols, you can learn them in less than two hours with my free phonetic alphabet course.)

Can you spot the /æ/?

Pre-testing your knowledge will help you master this sound faster.

Say these ten words out loud. To check whether you’re getting them right, click the top right arrows to see the phonetic transcriptions, and press Play to hear the words said by a native speaker.

analysis

analysis
/əˈnæləsɪs/

avalanche

avalanche
/ˈævᵊlɑːntʃ/

bag

bag
/bæɡ/

flat

flat
/flæt/

imagine

imagine
/ɪˈmædʒɪn/

magazine

magazine
/ˌmæɡəˈziːn/

manufacturer

manufacturer
/ˌmænjəˈfæktʃᵊrə/

package

package
/ˈpækɪdʒ/

plan

plan
/plæn/

standard

standard
/ˈstændəd/

Let’s play those flashcards again

Before moving on to the next topic in this lesson, play those ten words once more. Focus on the /æ/.

Tip: Don’t worry if you make many pronunciation mistakes at this point, or if you can’t distinguish the /æ/ easily. Soon you’re going to get to know this sound.

What’s the accent on those flashcards?

All the flashcards throughout this English pronunciation course have been recorded by native speakers with a Standard British English accent.

What’s next?

In the next topic I show you how to produce the /æ/.