/i/as in “be”

Vowel

How to pronounce /i/ in English

The /i/ sound is a high, tense front vowel.

High
Tense
Front

Jaw
Open your mouth slightly.
Tongue
Tense your tongue, raise it very high in your mouth, and push it forward.
Lips
Stretch your lips as wide as possible and make them tense.

Note: The tip of your tongue can also be placed just behind your bottom front teeth.

Example words

be
see
we
eat
sheep
key

Common mistakes

Sheep or ship

/ɪ/ came out as /iː/: "ship" sounded like "sheep". Relax your lips and tongue; keep it short.
/iː/ came out as /ɪ/: "sheep" sounded like "ship". Smile and tense your tongue.

How to practise

In American English these differ mostly in quality, not just length, so do not simply stretch the vowel.
/iː/: lips spread as in a smile, tongue high and tense.
/ɪ/: lips and tongue relaxed, the tongue a little lower and further back.

Easily confused words

sheep · ship
leave · live
seat · sit
feel · fill
beat · bit

Practise /i/ with Letty

Say any sentence and Letty scores every sound, showing which one to fix. On iPhone, iPad and Mac, no internet needed.

Download on the App Store