How to tell /eɪ/ and /aɪ/ apart

Practice the difference between the diphthongs /eɪ/ (as in day) and /aɪ/ (as in eye).

/eɪ/
Diphthong AY

late /leɪt/

A gliding vowel moving from /e/ to /ɪ/, as in day.

Lỗi thường gặp: Learners may flatten /eɪ/ into a single short vowel.

/aɪ/
Diphthong EYE

light /laɪt/

A gliding vowel moving from an open /a/ to /ɪ/, as in eye.

Lỗi thường gặp: Learners may confuse /aɪ/ with /eɪ/.

  • /eɪ/ sounds like 'ay': late, day, mail.
  • /aɪ/ sounds like 'eye': light, my, mile.
  • Start /eɪ/ with an /e/ sound.
  • Start /aɪ/ with an open /a/ sound.

Cặp âm dễ nhầm

late/leɪt/
light/laɪt/
mail/meɪl/
mile/maɪl/
raid/reɪd/
ride/raɪd/