HOW TO PRONOUNCE THE /æ/ SOUND - Phonetics IPA | How to Improve Eour English Speaking

HOW TO PRONOUNCE THE /æ/ SOUND:

1. The jaw drops and the tip of the tongue presses into the bottom front teeth. 
2. The body of the tongue rounds upward.

- The /æ/ sound has a rather long duration, meaning that it is said for more time than some other vowel sounds.

LIST OF WORDS CONTAINING PRONUNCIATION OF /æ/ SOUND:

act /ækt/	add /æd/	and /ænd/
ankle /ˈæŋkəl/	as /æz/	ask /æsk/
at /æt/	aunt /ænt/	after /ˈæftər/
that /ðæt/	back /bæk/	bad /bæd/
band /bænd/	bank /bæŋk/	black /blæk/
can /kæn/	can't /kænt/	carry /ˈkæri/
had /hæd/	has /hæz/	have /hæv/
fact /fækt/	family /ˈfæməli/	hand  /hænd/
happen /ˈhæpən/	happy /ˈhæpi/	land /lænd/
man /mæn/	stand /stænd/	thank /θæŋk/
travel /ˈtrævl/	understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/	value /ˈvæljuː/
tax /tæks/	track /træk/	pact /pækt/
sad /sæd/

LIST OF ENGLISH HOMOPHONES CONTAINING PRONUNCIATION OF /æ/ SOUND:

* Remember that the body of the tongue curves upward during the /æ/ sound. If the body of the tongue is held low and flat, a short o sound /a/ will be produced instead. Listen to both the /æ/ and /a/: /æ/, /a/.  - Source: pronuncian.com

1. tap /tæp/ - top /tɑːp/.
2. black /blæk/ - block /blɑːk/

- A homophone (UK: /ˈhɒməfəʊn/; US: /ˈhɑːməfəʊn/, /ˈhəʊməfəʊn/) is a word which is pronounced the same as another word but differs in spelling, meaning or origin.

• Same Pronunciation
• Different Spelling
• Different Meaning

- As in the case of to, too, and two:

1. to

UK, US: /tə/; before vowels  /tu/; strong form  /tuː/

* Pronunciation note: 

Usually ppronounced /tə/ before a consonant; and /tu/ before a vowel; but pronounced /tuː/ when you are emphasizing it.

2. too: UK, US: /tuː/

3. two: UK, US: /tuː/

ad /æd/	ó	add /æd/
ant /ænt/	ó	aunt /ænt/
ante /ˈænti/	ó	anti /ˈænti/
band /bænd/	ó	banned /bænd/
baron /ˈbærən/	ó	barren /ˈbærən/
cache /kæʃ/	ó	cash /kæʃ/
canvas /ˈkænvəs/	ó	canvass /ˈkænvəs/
clack /klæk/	ó	claque /klæk/
dam /dæm/	ó	damn /dæm/
draft /dræft/	ó	draught /dræft/
franc /fræŋk/	ó	frank /fræŋk/
gamble /ˈɡæmbl/	ó	gambol /ˈɡæmbl/
hangar /ˈhæŋər/	ó	hanger /ˈhæŋər/
lam /læm/	ó	lamb /læm/
mantel /ˈmæntl/	ó	mantle /ˈmæntl/
pact /pækt/	ó	packed /pækt/
rack /ræk/	ó	wrack /ræk/
rap /ræp/	ó	wrap /ræp/
sac /sæk/	ó	sack /sæk/
tact /tækt/	ó	tacked /tækt/

* Pronounciation American

LIST OF ENGLISH HETERONYMS CONTAINING PRONUNCIATION OF /æ/ SOUND: 

- A heteronym (also known as a heterophone) is a word that has a different pronunciation and meaning from another word but the same spelling. For example the metal "lead" /led/ and the verb "lead" /liːd/.

• Different Pronunciation
• Different Meaning
• Same Spelling

abstract

Pronounce 1: 

Abstract: UK: /ˈæbstrækt/; US: /ˈæbstrækt/

+ Adjective:

- existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence

+ Noun:

 - ​a short piece of writing containing the main ideas in a document

Pronounce 2: 

Abstract: UK: /æbˈstrækt/; US: /æbˈstrækt/

+ Verb: 

 - consider (something) theoretically or separately from something else

ablative

Pronounce 1: 

ablative: UK: /ˈæblətɪv/; US: /ˈæblətɪv/

+ Adjective:

 - ​(in some languages) in the form that a noun, a pronoun or an adjective can take to show, for example, who or what something is done by or where something comes from  [grammar].

+ Noun:

 - the ablative case: this case is expressed by inflection in languages such as Latin, Sanskrit, and Hungarian

 - a word or phrase in this case

Pronounce 2:

ablative: /æbˈleɪtɪv/

+ Adjective:

 - that ablates, as the protective coating material on the nose cone of a space missile [Astronomy].

Advocate

Pronounce 1: 

advocate: UK /ˈædvəkeɪt/; US: /ˈædvəkeɪt/

+ Verb:

 - to argue for someone else ​

Pronounce 2: 

advocate: /ˈædvəkət/; US: /ˈædvəkət/

+ Noun: 

 - a person who supports or speaks in favour of somebody or of a public plan or action [formal].

Analyses

Pronounce 1: 

analyses: UK: /ˈænəlaɪzɪz/; US: /ˈænəlaɪzɪz/

+ Verb:

- third person singular present of analyse

Pronounce 2: 

analyses: K: /əˈnæləsiːz/; US: /əˈnæləsiːz/

+ Noun: 

 - analyses is the plural of analysis

Axes

Pronounce 1: 

axes: UK: /ˈæksiːz/; US: /ˈæksiːz/

+ Noun:

 - Axes is the plural of axis.

Pronounce 2: 

axes: UK: /ˈæksɪz/; US: /ˈæksɪz/

+ Noun: 

 - Axes is the plural of axe / ax

+ Verb:

 - third person singular present of axe

Compact

Pronounce 1: 

compact: UK: /kəmˈpækt/; US: /kəmˈpækt/

+ Verb:

 - compact something to press something together firmly [usually passive].

+ Adjective:

compact: UK: /kəmˈpækt/, /ˈkɒmpækt/; US: /kəmˈpækt/, /ˈkɑːmpækt/

 - smaller than is usual for things of the same kind (usually approving)

a compact camera

 - ​using or filling only a small amount of space

The kitchen was compact but well equipped.

Computers have become much more compact over the last 15 years.

Pronounce 2: 

compact: UK: /ˈkɒmpækt/; US: /ˈkɑːmpækt/

+ Noun: 

 - ​a small flat box with a mirror, containing powder that women use on their faces

 - a formal agreement between two or more people or countries (formal).

Contract

Pronounce 1: 

contract: UK: /ˈkɒntrækt/; US: /ˈkɑːntrækt/

+ Noun:

 - a legal document that states and explains a formal agreement between two different people or groups, or the agreement itself.
 - ​contract (on somebody) (informal) an agreement to kill somebody for money

Pronounce 2: 

contract: UK: /kənˈtrækt/; US: /kənˈtrækt/

+ Verb: 

 - to become less or smaller; to make something become less or smaller [intransitive, transitive] 
 - ​contract something (formal or medical) to get an illness [transitive] 

Graduate

Pronounce 1: 

graduate: UK: /ˈɡrædʒuət/; US: /ˈɡrædʒuət/

+ Noun:

 - a person who has a university degree

Pronounce 2: 

graduate: UK: /ˈɡrædʒueɪt/; US: /ˈɡrædʒueɪt/

+ Verb: 

 - ​to get a degree, especially your first degree, from a university or college [intransitive, transitive].
When I graduate I will become a graduate.
- graduate (from something) to something to start doing something more difficult or important than what you were doing before [intransitive].
She recently graduated from being a dancer to having a small role in a movie.

Laminate

Pronounce 1: 

laminate: UK: /ˈlæmɪˌneɪt/; US: /ˈlæmɪˌneɪt/

+ Verb:

 - to assemble from thin sheets glued together
 I want to get the screen of my new smartphone laminated.

Pronounce 2: 

laminate: UK: /ˈlæmɪnət/, /ˈlæmɪnɪt/; US: /ˈlæmɪnət/, /ˈlæmɪnɪt/

+ Noun: 

 - a material that is made by sticking several thin layers together [uncountable, countable]
The blade is suitable for cutting plastics or laminates.

Ragged

Pronounce 1: 

ragged: UK: /ˈræɡɪd/; US: /ˈræɡɪd/

+ Verb:

 - simple past tense and past participle of rag

Pronounce 2: 

ragged: UK: /ˈræɡɪd/; US: /ˈræɡɪd/

+ Adjective: 

 - (of clothes) torn and usually in bad condition from too much use, or (of people) wearing clothes in this condition.
  a ragged jacket.
 - having an outline, an edge or a surface that is not straight or even.
 - not smooth or regular; not showing control or careful preparation.
 - very tired, especially after physical effort (informal).
- not straight or even.
 He ragged on his parents, felt they ran him ragged

Transfer

Pronounce 1: 

transfer: UK: /ˈtrænsfɜː(r)/ ; US: /ˈtrænsfɜːr/

+ Verb:

 - to move something from one place to another (the verb can be accented on either syllable)

Pronounce 2: 

transfer: UK: /trænsˈfɜː(r)/; US: /trænsˈfɜːr/

+ Noun: 

 - a movement of something from one place to another

Address

Pronounce 1: 

address: UK: /əˈdres/; US: /əˈdres/

+ Verb:

 - to speak to (address) the crowd

 - to write the location

Pronounce 2:

address: UK: /əˈdres/; US: /ˈædres/

+ Noun:

 - a postal address

 - location

Affect 

Pronounce 1:
affect: UK: /əˈfekt/; US: /əˈfekt/
+ Verb:
 - affect somebody/something to produce a change in somebody/something

Pronounce 2:
affect: UK: /ˈæfɛkt/, /əˈfɛkt/; US: /ˈæfɛkt/
+ Noun:
 - Psychology:
a.  an emotion or feeling attached to an idea, object, etc.
b.  in general, emotion or emotional response

Agape

Pronounce 1: 
agape: UK:  /əˈɡeɪp/ US:  /əˈɡeɪp/
+ Adjective:
 - if a person’s mouth is agape, it is wide open, especially because they are surprised or shocked [not before noun] (formal).
+ Adverb:
 - with or as with the mouth wide open, in surprise, wonder, etc. gaping
 - wide open

Pronounce 2:
agape: UK: /ˈæɡəpi/; US: /ˈæɡəpi/, /əˈgɑˌpeɪ/
+ Noun:
 - a meal that early Christians ate together see also love feast
 - Christian Theology
a. God's love for humanity
b. spontaneous, altruistic love

Allied

Pronounce 1: 
allied: UK: /ˈælaɪd/; US: /ˈælaɪd/
+ Adjective:
 - connected with countries that unite to fight a war together, especially the countries that fought together against Germany in World Wars I and II [only before noun].
Italy joined the war on the Allied side in 1915.
Many civilians died as a result of allied bombing.

Pronounce 2:
allied: UK: /ˈælaɪd/,  /əˈlaɪd/; US: /ˈælaɪd/,  /əˈlaɪd/
+ Adjective:
 - joined, as by treaty, agreement, or marriage; united
 - of the same type or class; related
 - connected by a political or military agreement [before noun]: 
an allied offensive
allied bombers/forces

+ Verb:
allied: UK: /əˈlaɪd/, /ˈælaɪd/; US: /əˈlaɪd/, /ˈælaɪd/
 - simple past tense and past participle of ally

Alloy

Pronounce 1:
alloy: UK: /ˈælɔɪ/; US: /ˈælɔɪ/
+ Noun:
 - a metal that is formed by mixing two types of metal together, or by mixing metal with another substance [countable, uncountable]
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
alloy steel

Pronounce 2:
alloy: UK: /əˈlɔɪ/; US: /əˈlɔɪ/
+ Verb:
 - alloy something (with something) to mix one metal with another, especially one of lower value [specialist]
The copper was alloyed with tin to make bronze.

Alum

Pronounce 1: 
alum: UK: /ˈæləm/; US: /ˈæləm/
+ Noun:
 - a chemical substance containing aluminium used in dyeing (= changing the colour of something) and as an astringent (= substance that causes skin to tighten) [CHEMISTRY, specialized] 

Pronounce 2:
alum: /əˈlʌm/
+ Noun:
 - a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)

Attribute

Pronounce 1:
attribute: UK /ˈætrɪbjuːt/; US /ˈætrɪbjuːt/
+ Noun:
 - a quality or characteristic that someone or something has:
The most basic attribute of all animals is consciousness.
Organizational ability is an essential attribute for a good manager

Pronounce 2:
attribute: UK: /əˈtrɪbjuːt/; US: /əˈtrɪbjuːt/
+ Verb:
 - attribute something to something to say or believe that something is the result of a particular thing
She attributes her success to hard work and a little luck.
- attribute something to somebody to say or believe that somebody is responsible for doing something, especially for saying, writing or painting something
This play is usually attributed to Shakespeare.

Bass

Pronounce 1:
bass: UK: /bæs/; US: /bæs/
+ Noun:
 - Bass are edible fish that are found in rivers and the sea. There are several types of bass.
Fresh sea bass is a great delicacy.

Pronounce 2:
bass: UK: /beɪs/; US: /beɪs/
+ Noun:
 - the lowest range of musical notes, or a man with a singing voice in this range:
 - the set of low musical sounds on a radio, music system, etc.
 - an electric guitar with four strings that plays very low notes.

+ Adjective:
 - [only before noun] low in tone

Entrance

Pronounce 1:
entrance: UK: /ɪnˈtrɑːns/; US: /ɪnˈtræns/
+ Verb:
 - to make somebody admire and like somebody/something very much, so they give them/it all their attention [usually passive] (formal).
 - put into a trance

Pronounce 2:
entrance: UK: /ˈentrəns/; US: /ˈentrəns/
+ Noun:
 - something that provides access (to get in or get out)
 - the act of entering
 - a movement into or inward

invalid

Pronounce 1:
invalid: UK: /ɪnˈvælɪd/; US: /ɪnˈvælɪd/
+ Adjective:
 - not legally or officially acceptable
 - not based on all the facts, and therefore not correct

- [not gradable] not true or acceptable, or not correctly thought out:

The results of the election were declared invalid by the court.

 - ​(computing) of a type that the computer cannot recognize

invalid characters

Pronounce 2:
invalid: UK: /ˈɪnvəlɪd/; US: /ˈɪnvəlɪd/
+ Noun:
 - a person who needs other people to take care of them, because of illness that they have had for a long time [old-fashioned].

+ Verb:
- invalid somebody (out) | invalid somebody (out of something) to force somebody to leave the armed forces because of an illness or injury
He was invalided out of the army in 1943.

Source:
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