E - LOWER CASE E

Between half-open and half-close, front, slightly-spread; checked (short), lax.

For the articulation of RP /e/, the front of the tongue is raised below the half-close positions. The lips are slightly spread and slightly wider apart than for /ɪ/.

The tongue may have more tension than in the case of /ɪ/, the side rims making a light contact with the upper molars. The quality lies between that of CV 2 [e] and that of CV 3 [ɛ] = [e̞] or [ɛ˔].

Spelling

<e> w>et /wet/, b>ed /bed/, p>encil /ˈpensl̩/
<ea> h>ead /hed/, br>eath /breθ/, pl>easure /ˈpleʒə/
<a, ay, ai> >any /ˈeni/, >ate /et/ , says /sez/, s>aid /sed/, ag>ainst /əˈɡenst/
<ei> l>eisure /ˈleʒə/, L>eicester /ˈlestə/
<eo> l>eopard /ˈlepəd/, j>eopardise /ˈdʒepədaɪz/, G>eoffrey /ˈdʒefri/
<u> b>ury /ˈberi/ , b>urial /ˈberɪəl /
Rare cases:
<ie> fr>iend /frend/
<ey> R>eynolds /ˈrenəldz/

Examples


then / ðen/



tech /tek/


led /led/


let /let/


health /helθ/


friend /frend/


leopard /ˈlepəd/


Geoffrey Reynolds, my friend, help me bury the dead.
/ ˈdʒefri ˈrenəldz ∣ maɪ ˈfrend ∣ ˈhelp mi ˈberi ðə ˈded/



The wretch concentered all in self.
/ðə ˈretʃ kənˈsentəd ˈɔ:l ɪn ˈself/



His head leant on a fence.
/hɪz ˈhed ˈlent ɒn ə ˈfens/



Many an anemone ate an enemy anemone.
/ˈmeni ən əˈneməni et ən ˈenəmi əˈneməni/



Send toast to ten tense stout saints´ ten tall tents.
/ˈsend ˈtəʊst tə ˈten ˈtens ˈstaʊt ˈseɪnts ˈten ˈtɔ:l ˈtents/



Seventy seven benevolent elephants.
/ˈsevnti ˈsevn̩ bəˈnevələnt ˈelɪfənts/

Pronunciation




The tongue is positioned as far forward as possible in the mouth and is raised between the half-close and half open positions. The lips are slightly spread.

The soft palate is raised (unless followed by a nasal).

Half open front vowel.

When we pronounce this sound, the front of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate, between the half-open and the half-close positions.

The tip of the tongue is in contact with the lower teeth. The lips are spread. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.

Spelling

<e>

Examples

erizo


mesa


mensaje

Que el bebé cese de beber leche frente a la tele.

Pronunciation




The front of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate, between the half-open and the half-close positions.

The tip of the tongue is in contact with the lower teeth. The lips are spread. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.