Do you know how to pronounce the words eat and it correctly in English?
These two words sound very similar, and it can be difficult to understand the difference between them, when it comes to pronunciation.
This is because the vowel (vowel = the letters a, e, i, o, u) sounds are very similar. There are lots of pairs of words that people often mix up, because they contain these sounds.
The Coffee Break English Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations to help you understand some difficult topics in English. In the latest episode, Josie and Maurizio talk about the difference between these vowel sounds and how to pronounce eat and it correctly.
Continue reading to find out more and, because this episode focuses on pronunciation, it’s best to watch the video or listen to the episode before you read this blog, to hear Josie and Maurizio making the sounds.
So, let’s get started and look at these two vowel sounds. Why not get a cup of coffee or tea to enjoy while you read and listen?
The vowel sound in ‘eat’
The vowel sound in the word eat is a long sound. To make it, your jaw should be tense (tense = not relaxed), and you should look like you are smiling. The symbol for this sound in the International Phonetic Alphabet is /i:/. Other words that contain this sound are:
feet
e.g. He has small feet.
sheep
e.g. There are nine sheep in that field.
beat
e.g. My team beat your team in the football match last night.
these
e.g. These microphones are powerful.
cheap
e.g. My new bike was very cheap.
The vowel sound in ‘it’
The vowel sound in the word it is a short sound. To make it, your jaw and mouth should be relaxed, and the tip of your tongue should be behind your bottom teeth. The symbol for this sound in the International Phonetic Alphabet is /ɪ/. Other words that contain this sound are:
fit
e.g. I go running to keep fit.
ship
e.g. They travelled by ship to America.
bit
e.g. I speak a bit of German.
this
e.g. This table is big.
chip
e.g. My favourite meal is fish and chips.
Example sentences with /i:/ and /ɪ/
Is everything clear so far? We hope you are ready for a challenge! Here are some example sentences containing the vowel sounds /i:/ and /ɪ/. Try to say them several times to practise your pronunciation.
I sit on the seat.
Can I eat it?
The shoes fit on my feet.
Is that a ship or a sheep?
Let’s review
It’s a good idea to practise the sounds /i:/ and /ɪ/ because they are very similar, and it’s possible that people could misunderstand you if you don’t pronounce them correctly. Try making a list of all the words with these sounds that you find difficult to pronounce, and practise them every day.
However, remember that it’s OK if you don’t sound like a native speaker when you’re speaking English. It’s more important that you are confident when you’re speaking, and that people can understand you.
If you found this post interesting, listen to the full episode with Josie and Maurizio on The Coffee Break English Show. In this series we look at lots of useful topics for English learners, so make sure to subscribe to our podcast feed and our channel on YouTube.
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Happy Coffee Breaking!
