This is the /eә/ sound, as in the words:
their /ðeә/
where /weә/
area /ˈeәriә/
/eə/ is a diphthong sound which means it is a combination of two vowel sounds that
are pronounced within the same syllable. The /eә/ sound is a combination of /e/ and /ә/.
Like vowels the diphthongs are all made through the mouth and are voiced which means that
you vibrate your vocal chords to make the sound.
Unlike with vowels and consonants, when you pronounce a diphthong sound, your mouth will
change position and shape as you say the sound,
because they combine two vowel sounds.
So as you say the /eә/ sound your mouth will start on the position of the /e/ sound and
you then relax you mouth a little and allow you Lips to become less unrounded as you finish
on the position of the /ə/ sound.
One of the most difficult things about learning English is the spelling.
This is because spelling is often not phonetic especially the vowels and diphthongs.
So you will find the /eә/ sound spelled many different ways.
But it is often spelled with the letters "e" or "e-a", as in the words:
there /ðeә/
parent /ˈpeәrәnt/
yeah /jeә/
Here are a couple of words that have the /eә/ sound in the middle.
various /ˈveәriәs/
parent /ˈpeәrәnt/
Here are some words with the /eә/ sound at the end.
care /keә/
wear /weә/
hair /heә/
share /ʆeә/
So that's it for the /eə/ sound.
We've also made videos on each of the phonetic sounds which you can see by clicking on these links.
We've also made videos on the groups of sounds vowels, diphthongs consonant pairs and single consonants.
As well as a video explaining the overall phonetic chart.
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