The /æ/ Vowel (TRAP)
/æ/
/æ/ is a front open unrounded vowel. It is a short monophthong, so it keeps one steady quality.
Example Words
| Word | UK | US | |
|---|---|---|---|
| hat | /hæt/ | /hæt/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| black | /blæk/ | /blæk/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| man | /mæn/ | /mæn/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
Distinctive Features
/æ/ is told apart from every other English sound by two distinctive features.
Allophones Of /æ/
/æ/ has 2 allophones in the app, starting with [æ̃], a vowel followed by a nasal in the same syllable. The full list, where each occurs and the examples are in Allophones, which opens with any course or with Adroit Plus.
Words With The /æ/ Sound
/æ/ At The Start Of A Word
- act
- add
- ant
- apt
- ash
- ass
- axe
- acid
- acne
- ally
- aloe
- arid
- atom
- aunt
- avid
- axle
- axon
- actor
- agony
- album
- algae
- alibi
- allah
- alloy
- amber
- amble
- amide
- amour
- ample
- anger
/æ/ In The Middle Of A Word
Minimal Pairs
Minimal Pairs /e/ And /æ/ (Bed And Bad)Minimal Pairs /æ/ And /ʌ/ (Cat And Cut)Minimal Pairs /æ/ And /ɑː/ (Cat And Cart)
Questions Students Ask
How do you describe the vowel /æ/?
/æ/ is a front open unrounded vowel.
Which words have the /æ/ sound?
For example hat, black, man.