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Long A
The vowel sound heard in words like "say", "make", "rain", and "eight". It's a diphthong, meaning it's a combination of two vowel sounds: it starts with a sound similar to the 'e' in "bet" (/ɛ/ or a slightly higher /e/) and glides towards the 'ee' sound in "see" (/i/ or /ɪ/).
Start with the jaw mid-open and the tongue mid-high and towards the front of the mouth. Then, glide the tongue slightly higher and forward while the jaw closes slightly. The lips start relatively neutral or slightly spread and become more neutral or slightly retracted as the sound finishes.
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Example Words
seɪmeɪkreɪnpleɪeɪtgreɪtweɪtleɪtfeɪsneɪmPronunciation Practice
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weɪtwɛtleɪtlɛtpeɪnpɛnmeɪnmænTongue Twister
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Use the hub pages below to reinforce this sound with drills and deeper explanations.
Sound Hub
Study English diphthongs
See how English gliding vowels work and where they appear in common words.
Practice
Practice English diphthongs
Train the glide and mouth movement behind the main diphthong patterns.
Pronunciation
What Are Diphthongs? The English Vowels That Move
Diphthongs are vowel sounds where your mouth glides from one position to another. Learn what makes them different from regular vowels and why they matter for clear English pronunciation.
Pronunciation
Why Romance Language Speakers Flatten English Diphthongs (and How to Glide Properly)
Spanish, Portuguese, and French speakers often turn English diphthongs into flat vowels, making 'say' sound like 'seh' and 'go' like 'goh.' Learn exactly why this happens and how to master the glide in all five English diphthongs.