Phonetics: Phonemic Symbols Level 1

Phonetics: Phonemic Symbols 1.1

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

This exercise is designed to help you become familiar with phonemic symbols that represent the sounds of Standard English. Answer each of the following questions to the best of your ability.

Start

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word Thomas.

A	/t/ Hint: /t/ is a voiceless alveolar oral stop.
B	/θ/ Hint: /θ/ is a voiceless interdental fricative.
C	/ð/ Hint: /ð/ is a voiced interdental fricative.

Question 1 Explanation:

Excellent! The /t/ in Thomas is a voiceless alveolar stop.

Question 2

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word church.

A	/∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) Hint: /∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal fricative. These symbols represent the final sound in the word fish. The final sound in the word 'church' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate.
B	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA)
C	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop. The final sound in the word 'church' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate.

Question 2 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'church' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate.

Question 3

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word gymnastics.

A	/j/ (IPA), /y/ (NA) Hint: /j/ (IPA), /y/ (NA) is a palatal glide. The first sound in the word 'gymnastics' is a voiced post-alveolar affricate. /dʒ/ /dʒɪmnæstɪks/
B	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar stop. The first sound in the word 'gymnastics' is a voiced post-alveolar affricate. /dʒ/ /dʒɪmnæstɪks/
C	/dʒ/ (IPA), /ǰ/ (NA)

Question 3 Explanation:

Excellent! /dʒ/ (IPA), /ǰ/ (NA) is a voiced alveolar-palatal affricate. /dʒɪmnæstɪks/

Question 4

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word badge.

A	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar stop. The final sound of the word 'badge' is /d͡ʒ/, a voiced postalveolar affricate. /bæd͡ʒ/
B	/d͡ʒ/ (IPA), /ǰ/ (NA)
C	/ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) Hint: /ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) is a voiced post alveolar fricative; this symbol represents the final sound in the word beige. The final sound of the word 'badge' is /d͡ʒ/, a voiced postalveolar affricate. /bæd͡ʒ/

Question 4 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound of the word 'badge' is /d͡ʒ/, a voiced postalveolar affricate. /bæd͡ʒ/

Question 5

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word loving.

A	/n/ Hint: /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop. The final sound in the word 'loving' is /ŋ/, a velar nasal. /lʌvɪŋ/
B	/ŋ/
C	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar stop. The final sound in the word 'loving' is /ŋ/, a velar nasal. /lʌvɪŋ/

Question 5 Explanation:

Excellent! /The final sound in the word 'loving' is /ŋ/, a velar nasal. /lʌvɪŋ/

Question 6

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word bath.

A	/h/ Hint: /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative. The final sound in the word 'bath' is /θ/, a voiceless interdental fricative. /bæθ/
B	/θ/
C	/ð/ Hint: /ð/ is a voiced interdental fricative. This symbol represents the final sound in the word bathe. The final sound in the word 'bath' is /θ/, a voiceless interdental fricative. /bæθ/

Question 6 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'bath' is /θ/, a voiceless interdental fricative. /bæθ/

Question 7

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word though.

A	/θ/ Hint: /θ/ is a voiceless interdental fricative.
B	/ð/ Hint: /ð/ is a voiced interdental fricative.
C	/t/ Hint: /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

Question 7 Explanation:

Excellent! /ð/ is a voiced dental fricative.

Question 8

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word pneumonia.

A	/p/ Hint: /p/ is a voiceless bilabial stop. The p in the word pneumonia is silent.
B	/m/ Hint: /m/ is a bilabial nasal stop.
C	/n/ Hint: /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop.

Question 8 Explanation:

Excellent! /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop.

Question 9

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word civic.

A	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop.
B	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) Hint: /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal affricate.
C	/s/ Hint: /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 9 Explanation:

Excellent! /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 10

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word pharmacy.

A	/f/
B	/h/ Hint: /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative. The first sound in the word 'pharmacy' is /f/. /faɹməsi/
C	/p/ Hint: /p/ is a voiceless bilabial stop. The first sound in the word 'pharmacy' is /f/. /faɹməsi/

Question 10 Explanation:

Excellent! /f/ is a voiceless labio-dental fricative. /faɹməsi/

Question 11

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word bands.

A	/d/ Hint: /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop. The final sound in the word 'bands' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /bændz/
B	/z/
C	/s/ Hint: /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative; this symbol represents the final sound in the word pass. The final sound in the word 'bands' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /bændz/

Question 11 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'bands' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /bændz/

Question 12

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word chorus.

A	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) Hint: /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless post alveolar affricate. These symbols are used to represent the first sound in the word chip. The first sound in the word 'chorus' is /k/, a voiceless velar oral stop. /kɔɹəs/
B	/k/
C	/c/ Hint: /c/ is a voiceless palatal stop, which is not a sound in English. The first sound in the word 'chorus' is /k/. /kɔɹəs/

Question 12 Explanation:

Excellent! The first sound in the word 'chorus' is /k/, a voiceless velar stop. /kɔɹəs/

Question 13

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word swoons.

A	/ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) Hint: /ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) is a voiced post-alveolar fricative. These symbols represent the final sound in the word beige. The final sound in the word 'swoons' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /swunz/
B	/z/
C	/s/ Hint: /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative. The final sound in the word 'swoons' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /swunz/

Question 13 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'swoons' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /swunz/

Question 14

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word enough.

A	/f/
B	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar oral stop. The final sound in the word 'enough' is /f/, a voiceless labiodental fricative. /inʌf/
C	/h/ Hint: /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative. The final sound in the word 'enough' is /f/, a voiceless labiodental fricative. /inʌf/

Question 14 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'enough' is /f/, a voiceless labiodental fricative. /inʌf/

Question 15

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word school.

A	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) Hint: /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal affricate. The first sound in the word 'school' is /s/. /skul/
B	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop. The first sound in the word 'school' is /s/. /skul/
C	/s/

Question 15 Explanation:

Excellent! /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 16

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word poked.

A	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop. The final sound in the word 'poked' is /t/, a voiceless alveolar oral stop. /poʊkt/
B	/t/
C	/d/ Hint: /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop. The final sound in the word 'poked' is /t/, a voiceless alveolar oral stop. /poʊkt/

Question 16 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'poked' is /t/, a voiceless alveolar oral stop. /poʊkt/

Question 17

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word match.

A	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA)
B	/∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) Hint: /∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal fricative. These symbols represent the final sound in the word wish. The final sound in the word 'match' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate. /mæt͡ʃ/
C	/t/ Hint: /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop. The final sound in the word 'match' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate. /mæt͡ʃ/

Question 17 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'match' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate. /mæt͡ʃ/

Question 18

Chose the symbol that represents the final or last sound of the word autumn.

A	/n/ Hint: /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop. The final sound in the word 'autumn' is /m/, a bilabial nasal stop. /ɔɾəm/
B	/m/
C	/ŋ/ Hint: /ŋ/ is a velar nasal stop. This symbol represents the final or last sound in the word sing. The final sound in the word 'autumn' is /m/, a bilabial nasal stop. /ɔɾəm/

Question 18 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'autumn' is /m/, a bilabial nasal stop. /ɔɾəm/

Question 19

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the children.

A	/t/ Hint: /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.
B	/c/ Hint: /c/ is a voiceless palatal oral stop, which does not exist as a phoneme in English.
C	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) Hint: /t∫/ is voiceless post-alveolar affricate.

Question 19 Explanation:

Excellent! /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless post-alveolar (alveo-palatal) affricate.

Question 20

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word yellow.

A	/l/ Hint: /l/ is a lateral liquid.
B	/i/ Hint: /i/ represents a tense front high unrounded vowel.
C	/j/ Hint: /j/ is a palatal glide.

Question 20 Explanation:

/j/ (IPA) and /y/ (NA) are both symbols for a palatal glide.

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 20 questions to complete.

Return to Exercises Page

Phonetics: Phonemic Symbols 1.1

Your Subscription Information

Suggestions, Comments, & Questions