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American English Vowel Sounds: /ɪ/, IH as in SILVER

In this lesson you will learn everything you need to know about pronouncing the /ɪ/, IH as in SILVER vowel sound in American English.

Here’s what we will cover:

1) Exactly how to move the mouth to make this sound
2) Minimal pair listening practice to help you differentiate /ɪ/, IH as in SILVER from /i/, E as in GREEN
3) Imitation of this sound in words and sentences

CLARITY KICKSTART STUDENTS: Minimal pairs begin at 2:22 and end at 6:20

Practice words and sentences from this lesson:

Limit

What’s the limit?

I think I’ve reached my limit.

Simple

It seems pretty simple.

It’s a simple procedure.

Miss

I miss you.

You just missed him.

Finish

I’m almost finished.

Let’s finish this later.

Business

I own my own business.

Business is good!

Beginning

Let’s start at the beginning.

It’s really beginning to bother me.

Continue

This can’t continue.

We will continue this tomorrow.

Responsibility

It’s a big responsibility

That’s not her responsibility.

Deliver

Do they deliver?

It was delivered on Friday.

Interested

They seem really interested.

I’m not interested.


Continue your practice with this list of

100 Super Common /ɪ/, IH as in SILVER Words

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

decision

ability

system

river

continue

visit

big

specific

sophisticated

internet

begin

eliminate

beginning

winter

deliver

activity

figure

give

specifically

since

it

difficult

electricity

Mr.

similar

consider

insist

which

position

availability

with

finish

simple

build

city

if

significantly

industry

influence

live

originally

critical

distance

different

military

physical

fill

familiar

pick

within

chicken

interested

business

administrator

interview

contribute

sister

condition

official

picture

political

issue

history

win

commitment

risk

particular

minute

opinion

capability

little

committee

responsibility

kid

quickly

dinner

listen

six

wish

video

possibility

miss

typical

participate

until

middle

additional

list

willing

window

commit

trip

tradition

kitchen

facility

limited

bit

wind

bills

skill


Grab a PDF copy of this practice list here:

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