Vowels are sounds which are made on the most open stricture of approximation. Phonetically, vowels are classified in terms of the location of the constriction (front vs. back), the degree of opening (close vs. open) and whether there is lip rounding or not (rounded vs. unrounded). Apart from these basic distinctions vowel can contrast in duration (short vs. long), their conformational aspect (oral vs. nasal). The vowels in some languages also contrast in voice quality (modal vs. creaky). The videos on this page only demonstrate some of the more basic distinctions.

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Symbols for the phonetic transcription of vowels

UNROUNDED

CLOSE

ROUNDED

CLOSE

CLOSE

ROUNDED

CLOSE

UNROUNDED

FRONT

BACK

CLOSE - MID

UNROUNDED

CLOSE - MID

ROUNDED

CLOSE - MID

ROUNDED

CLOSE - MID

UNROUNDED

FRONT

BACK

FRONT

BACK

CLOSE

UNROUNDED

CLOSE

ROUNDED

OPEN - MID

UNROUNDED

OPEN - MID

ROUNDED

OPEN - MID

UNROUNDED

OPEN - MID

ROUNDED

FRONT

BACK

OPEN

UNROUNDED

OPEN

ROUNDED

OPEN

UNROUNDED

OPEN

ROUNDED

FRONT

BACK

The phonetics of vowels