You convert English words into IPA phonemes following the guide below.
---
title: "Writing American English pronunciations (IPA en-US v01)"
description: "How to write a word's pronunciation so a Cartesia Sonic 3.5 or 3.6 voice says it in a General American accent."
---
## Purpose
This page shows how to write the pronunciation of an English word so that a Cartesia
Sonic 3.5 or Sonic 3.6 voice says it in a General American accent. Use it for brand
names, product names, surnames and technical terms the voice gets wrong.
**Who reads this page**
1. **A person** writing the IPA for a word by hand.
2. **A language model** given only this page and asked for a word's IPA. The whole
page can be pasted into a prompt as it is.
## At a glance
- Put `|` between symbols and wrap the symbols in `<<` `>>`: *cat* `<<ˈ|k|æ|t>>`.
Two-letter symbols such as `aɪ` and `tʃ` count as one symbol, so `aɪ` is one symbol
and `ɪ|ɹ` is two.
- Inside the tables below, `\|` is the same `|` (the backslash is only table markup).
Never write a backslash in a pronunciation.
- Use only the 41 symbols below: 24 consonants, 15 vowels and 2 stress marks.
- **Every word has a primary stress mark `ˈ`, one-syllable words included:**
*cat* `<<ˈ|k|æ|t>>`. Only reduced, unstressed forms of small function words go
without one: *the* `<<ð|ə>>`.
- **The stress mark goes before the consonants that begin the stressed syllable,**
not directly before its vowel: *today* `<<t|ə|ˈ|d|eɪ>>`.
- Example words are in *italics*. `*` marks a wrong form or a symbol that is not in
the inventory, shown only for contrast: for example, `*<<t|ə|d|ˈ|eɪ>>` shows an example
of placing the stress marker in the wrong place
(before the vowel, instead of before the consonant).
- The vowel of *cup* is `ə`, stressed or not: *cup* `<<ˈ|k|ə|p>>`. There is no `*ʌ`.
- **`ɝ` is the only r-colored vowel, and it is one symbol:** *bird* `<<ˈ|b|ɝ|d>>`.
There is no `*ɚ`.
- **Never write `ə|ɹ`; write `ɝ`,** also before a vowel and across a stress mark:
*letter* `<<ˈ|l|ɛ|t|ɝ>>`, not `*<<ˈ|l|ɛ|t|ə|ɹ>>`; *heparin* `<<ˈ|h|ɛ|p|ɝ|ɪ|n>>`, not
`*<<ˈ|h|ɛ|p|ə|ɹ|ɪ|n>>`; *arrive* `<<ɝ|ˈ|aɪ|v>>`, not `*<<ə|ˈ|ɹ|aɪ|v>>`.
- Write the word as you would pronounce it speaking slowly and clearly. For example, always
write `t`, even where a speaker says a flap or a glottal stop: *better* `<<ˈ|b|ɛ|t|ɝ>>`,
not `*<<ˈ|b|ɛ|ɾ|ɝ>>`; *hat* `<<ˈ|h|æ|t>>`, not `*<<ˈ|h|æ|ʔ>>`.
- No length marks on vowels: *see* `<<ˈ|s|i>>`, not `*<<ˈ|s|iː>>`.
## The symbols
The list is complete: any other symbol makes a pronunciation invalid.
### Consonants
| symbol | example | en-US v01 |
|---|---|---|
| `p` | *pen* | `<<ˈ\|p\|ɛ\|n>>` |
| `b` | *bed* | `<<ˈ\|b\|ɛ\|d>>` |
| `t` | *top* | `<<ˈ\|t\|ɑ\|p>>` |
| `d` | *day* | `<<ˈ\|d\|eɪ>>` |
| `k` | *key* | `<<ˈ\|k\|i>>` |
| `ɡ` | *good* | `<<ˈ\|ɡ\|ʊ\|d>>` |
| `tʃ` | *church* | `<<ˈ\|tʃ\|ɝ\|tʃ>>` |
| `dʒ` | *jam* | `<<ˈ\|dʒ\|æ\|m>>` |
| `f` | *fish* | `<<ˈ\|f\|ɪ\|ʃ>>` |
| `v` | *van* | `<<ˈ\|v\|æ\|n>>` |
| `θ` | *thin* | `<<ˈ\|θ\|ɪ\|n>>` |
| `ð` | *this* | `<<ˈ\|ð\|ɪ\|s>>` |
| `s` | *sit* | `<<ˈ\|s\|ɪ\|t>>` |
| `z` | *zoo* | `<<ˈ\|z\|u>>` |
| `ʃ` | *ship* | `<<ˈ\|ʃ\|ɪ\|p>>` |
| `ʒ` | *vision* | `<<ˈ\|v\|ɪ\|ʒ\|ə\|n>>` |
| `h` | *hat* | `<<ˈ\|h\|æ\|t>>` |
| `m` | *man* | `<<ˈ\|m\|æ\|n>>` |
| `n` | *no* | `<<ˈ\|n\|oʊ>>` |
| `ŋ` | *sing* | `<<ˈ\|s\|ɪ\|ŋ>>` |
| `l` | *leg* | `<<ˈ\|l\|ɛ\|ɡ>>` |
| `ɹ` | *red* | `<<ˈ\|ɹ\|ɛ\|d>>` |
| `j` | *yes* | `<<ˈ\|j\|ɛ\|s>>` |
| `w` | *win* | `<<ˈ\|w\|ɪ\|n>>` |
### Vowels
| symbol | example | en-US v01 | note |
|---|---|---|---|
| `i` | *fleece* | `<<ˈ\|f\|l\|i\|s>>` | also the end of *happy* `<<ˈ\|h\|æ\|p\|i>>` |
| `ɪ` | *kit* | `<<ˈ\|k\|ɪ\|t>>` | also before r in *near* `<<ˈ\|n\|ɪ\|ɹ>>`, and many unstressed vowels: *music* `<<ˈ\|m\|j\|u\|z\|ɪ\|k>>` |
| `ɛ` | *dress* | `<<ˈ\|d\|ɹ\|ɛ\|s>>` | also before r: *square* `<<ˈ\|s\|k\|w\|ɛ\|ɹ>>` |
| `æ` | *trap* | `<<ˈ\|t\|ɹ\|æ\|p>>` | also *bath*, *dance*: *bath* `<<ˈ\|b\|æ\|θ>>` |
| `ɑ` | *palm* | `<<ˈ\|p\|ɑ\|m>>` | also *cot* and *stop*: *stop* `<<ˈ\|s\|t\|ɑ\|p>>` |
| `ɔ` | *thought* | `<<ˈ\|θ\|ɔ\|t>>` | also before r: *more* `<<ˈ\|m\|ɔ\|ɹ>>` |
| `ʊ` | *foot* | `<<ˈ\|f\|ʊ\|t>>` | also before r: *sure* `<<ˈ\|ʃ\|ʊ\|ɹ>>` |
| `u` | *goose* | `<<ˈ\|ɡ\|u\|s>>` | |
| `ə` | *strut* | `<<ˈ\|s\|t\|ɹ\|ə\|t>>` | stressed or not; also *sofa* `<<ˈ\|s\|oʊ\|f\|ə>>` |
| `ɝ` | *nurse* | `<<ˈ\|n\|ɝ\|s>>` | stressed or not; also *letter* `<<ˈ\|l\|ɛ\|t\|ɝ>>` |
| `eɪ` | *face* | `<<ˈ\|f\|eɪ\|s>>` | |
| `aɪ` | *price* | `<<ˈ\|p\|ɹ\|aɪ\|s>>` | |
| `ɔɪ` | *choice* | `<<ˈ\|tʃ\|ɔɪ\|s>>` | |
| `aʊ` | *mouth* | `<<ˈ\|m\|aʊ\|θ>>` | |
| `oʊ` | *goat* | `<<ˈ\|ɡ\|oʊ\|t>>` | |
### Stress marks
| mark | use | example |
|---|---|---|
| `ˈ` primary | once in every word, one-syllable words included | *water* `<<ˈ\|w\|ɔ\|t\|ɝ>>`, *cat* `<<ˈ\|k\|æ\|t>>` |
| `ˌ` secondary | optional, on a strong syllable that is not the main stress | *education* `<<ˌ\|ɛ\|dʒ\|ə\|ˈ\|k\|eɪ\|ʃ\|ə\|n>>` |
### Look-alike characters
Each of these has a look-alike that the voice reads as a different symbol, or not at all.
| write | codepoint | not |
|---|---|---|
| `ɡ` | U+0261 LATIN SMALL LETTER SCRIPT G | keyboard `*g` U+0067 LATIN SMALL LETTER G |
| `ɹ` | U+0279 LATIN SMALL LETTER TURNED R | keyboard `*r` U+0072 LATIN SMALL LETTER R |
| `ɝ` | U+025D LATIN SMALL LETTER REVERSED OPEN E WITH HOOK | `*ɚ` U+025A LATIN SMALL LETTER SCHWA WITH HOOK |
| `l` | U+006C LATIN SMALL LETTER L | `*ɫ` U+026B LATIN SMALL LETTER L WITH MIDDLE TILDE |
| `ˈ` | U+02C8 MODIFIER LETTER VERTICAL LINE | apostrophe `*'` U+0027 APOSTROPHE |
| `ə` | U+0259 LATIN SMALL LETTER SCHWA | `*ǝ` U+01DD LATIN SMALL LETTER TURNED E |
## Stress
- **Where the mark goes.** Put `ˈ` before all the consonants that begin the stressed
syllable: *today* `<<t|ə|ˈ|d|eɪ>>`, not `*<<t|ə|d|ˈ|eɪ>>`; *extended*
`<<ɪ|k|ˈ|s|t|ɛ|n|d|ɪ|d>>`. If the stressed syllable starts with a vowel, the mark
goes right before the vowel: *after* `<<ˈ|æ|f|t|ɝ>>`.
- **One-syllable words** are marked too: *cat* `<<ˈ|k|æ|t>>`, *but* `<<ˈ|b|ə|t>>`.
Leave the mark off only a reduced function-word form, like *the* `<<ð|ə>>` or *a*
`<<ə>>`. A full form of the same word is marked: *a* `<<ˈ|eɪ>>`.
- **Secondary stress** `ˌ` depends mostly on length. Leave it out of words with two or
three syllables. Words with five or more syllables almost always have one. Put it on a
full vowel (not `ə` or `ɪ`), most often on a syllable after the main stress.
Four-syllable words go either way: *education* `<<ˌ|ɛ|dʒ|ə|ˈ|k|eɪ|ʃ|ə|n>>`, *television*
`<<ˈ|t|ɛ|l|ə|ˌ|v|ɪ|ʒ|ə|n>>`.
- **Two primary marks.** Some compounds and prefixed words carry `ˈ` on both parts:
*upgrade* `<<ˈ|ə|p|ˈ|ɡ|ɹ|eɪ|d>>`.
## Vowels and consonants
- **The vowel of *cup*, *but* and *love* is `ə`,** the same symbol as the first vowel of
*about* `<<ə|ˈ|b|aʊ|t>>`. Never write `*ʌ`.
- **`ɝ` covers every r-colored vowel,** stressed (*bird*) or not (*letter*). Write it
as the one symbol `ɝ`, never as `ə|ɹ`: *water* `<<ˈ|w|ɔ|t|ɝ>>`, not
`*<<ˈ|w|ɔ|t|ə|ɹ>>`. It is never followed by an `ɹ` that ends the syllable.
- **Never write `ə|ɹ`, even before a vowel:** write `ɝ`, then the next vowel. *heparin*
`<<ˈ|h|ɛ|p|ɝ|ɪ|n>>`, *several* `<<ˈ|s|ɛ|v|ɝ|ə|l>>`, *hurry* `<<ˈ|h|ɝ|i>>`. This holds
across a stress mark: *arrive* `<<ɝ|ˈ|aɪ|v>>`, *parameters* `<<p|ɝ|ˈ|æ|m|ə|t|ɝ|z>>`.
After a full vowel the `ɹ` stays: *America* `<<ə|ˈ|m|ɛ|ɹ|ə|k|ə>>`.
- **Before an r that ends a syllable,** write `ɑ`, `ɔ`, `ɛ`, `ʊ` or `ɪ`, then `ɹ`:
*start* `<<ˈ|s|t|ɑ|ɹ|t>>`, *more* `<<ˈ|m|ɔ|ɹ>>`, *square* `<<ˈ|s|k|w|ɛ|ɹ>>`,
*sure* `<<ˈ|ʃ|ʊ|ɹ>>`, *near* `<<ˈ|n|ɪ|ɹ>>`.
- ***cot* and *caught* differ:** `ɑ` in *stop* `<<ˈ|s|t|ɑ|p>>`, `ɔ` in *thought*
`<<ˈ|θ|ɔ|t>>`.
- **Endings.** *-ted* and *-ded* are usually `ɪ|d`: *abated* `<<ə|ˈ|b|eɪ|t|ɪ|d>>`.
A final *-le* or *-en* after a consonant is `ə` plus the consonant: *little*
`<<ˈ|l|ɪ|t|ə|l>>`, *button* `<<ˈ|b|ə|t|ə|n>>`.
- **Write the word as you would pronounce it speaking slowly and clearly.** Write `t`
where a speaker says a flap or a glottal stop: *getting* `<<ˈ|ɡ|ɛ|t|ɪ|ŋ>>`, not
`*<<ˈ|ɡ|ɛ|ɾ|ɪ|ŋ>>`. No length marks, syllable dots or tie bars.
## Worked examples
| word | en-US v01 |
|---|---|
| *water* | `<<ˈ\|w\|ɔ\|t\|ɝ>>` |
| *music* | `<<ˈ\|m\|j\|u\|z\|ɪ\|k>>` |
| *garage* | `<<ɡ\|ɝ\|ˈ\|ɑ\|ʒ>>` |
| *tomato* | `<<t\|ə\|ˈ\|m\|eɪ\|ˌ\|t\|oʊ>>` |
| *America* | `<<ə\|ˈ\|m\|ɛ\|ɹ\|ə\|k\|ə>>` |
| *Cartesia* | `<<k\|ɑ\|ɹ\|ˈ\|t\|i\|ʒ\|ə>>` |
Output format:
- Give each word its own <<>>. Use a General American accent unless told otherwise.
- Reply with exactly one <<>> line per word, in the order given, and nothing else — no notes or corrections.
Words to transcribe:
