Letter names are not letter sounds
Every letter has a name, which you use when you spell a word aloud, and one or more sounds, which you use when you read. They are often different. The letter C is called /si/, but in cat it sounds like /k/. The letter W is called /ˈdʌbəlju/ ("double U"), but in water it is just /w/.
English spelling is not phonetic: the same letter can make several sounds, and the same sound can be spelled several ways. That is why dictionaries give the pronunciation of each word in IPA, and why it helps to learn a new word’s sound and spelling together.
The vowel letters: A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y
Five letters are vowels: A, E, I, O, U. The other 21 are consonants. Y works as both: it is a consonant in yes and a vowel in gym and happy.
The names of the vowel letters are the "long" vowel sounds, which is why they surprise many learners:
| Letter | Name | Sounds like the vowel in |
|---|---|---|
| A | /eɪ/ | day, name |
| E | /i/ | see, me |
| I | /aɪ/ | my, time |
| O | /oʊ/ | go, home |
| U | /ju/ | you, music |
In short words the same letters usually have a different, "short" sound: cat, bed, sit, hot, cup.
Letters that learners mix up
- E and I. The letter E is called /i/, and the letter I is called /aɪ/. Many learners say them the other way around.
- G and J. G is /dʒi/ and J is /dʒeɪ/. They rhyme with "see" and "day".
- A and R. A is /eɪ/; R is /ɑr/, like the word "are".
- B and V. B is made with both lips closed; V with the top teeth on the bottom lip. Say "berry" and "very" to feel the difference.
- L and R. For L, the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the top teeth. For R, the tongue does not touch anything and the lips are a little rounded.
- Z. In American English Z is called /zi/, rhyming with "see". In British English it is "zed".
- H. The name is /eɪtʃ/, with no /h/ sound at the start in standard English.
- Y and W. Y is /waɪ/, like the word "why". W is the longest letter name: /ˈdʌbəlju/.
Spelling a word aloud
You will often need to spell your name, your email address, or a street name, especially on the phone.
- Say each letter name: Kim is "K, I, M".
- For a double letter, say double: Anna is "A, double N, A". Some people just say the letter twice ("N, N"); both are fine.
- Say capital before a capital letter only when it matters, for example in a password.
- In an email address, @ is at, . is dot, - is dash, and _ is underscore.
On a bad phone line, people make letters clear with a word: "B as in boy", "M as in Mary".
Capital and small letters
Each letter has a capital (uppercase) form and a small (lowercase) form: A a, B b, C c. Use a capital letter:
- at the start of a sentence;
- for the word I, always;
- for names of people, places, languages, and nationalities: Maria, Mexico, English, Korean;
- for days and months: Monday, March.
Everything else is lowercase, including seasons (spring, summer).