For the articulation of RP /eɪ/, the glide begins from slightly below the half-close front position [e˕] and moves in the direction of RP /ɪ/, there being a slight closing movement of the lower jaw. The lips are spread.
Before [ɫ], the [ɪ] element tends to be absorbed into [ə] or [ʊ] (e.g. sail [seəɫ]).
English and Spanish /eɪ/ as in reina ('queen') are similar in quality, although the starting point of the former is a more open type of [e] while the end-point is more relaxed in English than in Spanish. English /eɪ/ is longer in quantity.
Spelling
<a>
April /ˈeɪprəl/ , Cambridge /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/ , chaos /keɪɒs/
<ai,ay>
jail /dʒeɪl/ , rain /reɪn/ , crayon /kreɪən/
<ei, ey>
grey /ɡreɪ/ , obey /əˈbeɪ/
<ea>
great /ˈɡreɪt/ , steak /steɪk/
<eigh>
sleigh /sleɪ/ ,eight /eɪt/
Verbs ending in <-ate> (/eɪ/ vs. /ə/ in n. and adj.)
The mayor says he's afraid they elaborate a deliberate plan to raise riot in Baker street. /ðə ˈmeə ˈsez hiz əˈfreɪd ðeɪ ɪˈlæbəreɪt ə dɪˈlɪbərət ˈplæn tə ˈreɪz ˈraɪət ɪn ˈbeɪkə ˈstri:t/
I don't like this mayonnaise. May I change it? /ˈaɪ dəʊnt ˈlaɪk ðɪs ˌmeɪəˈneɪz || ˈmeɪ aɪ ˈtʃeɪndʒ ɪt/
Today, at a quarter to eight, I'm going away to Spain by plane. /təˈdeɪ | ət ə ˈkwɔ:tə tu ˈeɪt | aɪm ˌɡəʊɪŋ əˈweɪ tə ˈspeɪn baɪ ˈpleɪn/
That's a bit dangerous at your age. /ˈðæts ə bɪt ˈdeɪndʒərəs ət jər ˈeɪdʒ/
On a lazy laser raiser lies a laser ray eraser. /ɒn ə ˈleɪzi leɪzə ˈreɪzə ˈlaɪz ə ˈleɪzə reɪ ɪˈreɪzə/
Pronunciation
The tongue begins below close front position in the oral chamber and moves upwards towards a centralised close front position. The lips are loosely spread. The soft palate is raised (unless followed by a nasal).
Falling diphthong
The first sound in this diphthong is a vowel and the second element is a semivowel. The articulators move from an half open position to a close position. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.
Spelling
<ei, ey>
Examples
treinta
rey
Había veinte peines para la reina.
Pronunciation
The first sound is a vowel and the second element is a semivowel. The articulators move from an half open position to a close position. The vocal folds vibrate.