The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is standard method for expressing the range of sounds of that we use in the languages of the world. This is a useful tool for linguists and language learners as it is the way to write every possible sound. It often is helpful to see the “big picture” of all the sounds and how they relate to each other. It can also help you understand how to get your mouth to make the desired sound in your new language. If you learn the IPA, you will be able to write the proper pronunciation or every word in every language.
Learn more about the IPA:
- IPA website
- Wikipedia article
- Omniglot IPA webpage
- Download a PDF copy of the IPA
- Watch a video clip of a person saying each sound
- Click the images below to hear each sound
The NATO phonetic alphabet is a system where key words are used to represent letters and numbers when using two-way radios or other verbal communication. Often with international speakers, accents, stress, and poor communication links, letters such as b, c, d, e, g, p, t, v, z, and the number 3 can sound alike. Assigning a commonly agreed upon word helps avoid confusion when spelling words. This is different from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), which is a method of documenting each sound in language. Below is each letter, its word, the pronunciation, and the IPA spelling.