The /ɪ/ sound (“ih”) is a short quick vowel in Canadian English. For example, “sit”. It often gets confused with /i/ (“ee”) as in “seat” Learn how to make the sound, listen to the difference between /ɪ/ and common substitutions and then practice saying /ɪ/ in words and sentences. Finally, familiarize yourself with common spelling variations for /ɪ/.
For more practice, listen to the audio file and follow along with the print exercises.
How to make the /ɪ/ sound:
Mouth shape: mouth is slightly open
Tongue height: high
Tongue position: front
Tension: lax
Listening Exercise:
 |
 |
| bit | beet |
| hip | heap |
| hill | heal |
| rich | reach |
| bin | bean |
|
 |
| pick | peck |
| tin | ten |
| Dick | deck |
| win | when |
| miss | mess |
Speaking Exercises:
- kiss
- thick
- fish
- simple
- miss
- figure
- stitch
- lift
- kitchen
- pretty
- finish
- rich
- ticket
- river
- shiver
- dismiss
- list
- dish
- risk
- sick
- implosion
- blister
- spring
- Mister (Mr.)
Pronounce the /ɪ/ vowel in these sentences:
- He slid down the bank into the river.
- The problem was simple to figure out.
- Mickey Mouse lives in Disneyland.
- I lost my ticket in the thick brush.
- The pretty girl gave him a kiss.
- Did I miss a stitch on the quilt?
- If you’re shivering, do up the zipper on your coat.
- Let’s go for a swim in the river.
- Did you switch the fish that we caught?
- Kim tied a ribbon in her hair.
/ɪ/ Spelling Variations:
- i miss
- e pretty
- y gym
- u*y busy
- ie sieve
* Consonant sound