05. [f]
/f/ as in FUN /fʌn/, OFFICE /ˈɔfɪs/, and IF /ɪf/
PRONOUNCING /f/
UPPER TEETH: touch lower lip.
AIRSTREAM: is continuous without interruption.
VOCAL CORDS: are not vibrating.
The sound /f/ is pronounced the same way as the Spanish letter f.
SPANISH KEY WORDS WITH /f/
Spanish words with this sound are spelled with f.
KEY WORDS: feliz café
POSSIBLE PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER
This is a familiar Spanish sound and shouldn't present any difficulty for you in English. Think of the Spanish key word café and your /f/ will be PERFECTLY FINE!
EXERCISE A
The following words should be pronounced with /f/. Pronounce them carefully.
/f/ At the Beginning
/f/ In the Middle
/f/ At the End
for /fɔr/
far /fɑr/
few /fyu/
fast /fæst/
from /frʌm/
free /fri/
five /faɪv/face /feɪs/
funny /fʌni/
sofa /ˈsoʊfə/awful /ˈɔfəl/before /bɪˈfɔr/offer /ˈɔfɚ/office /ˈɔfɪs/coffee /ˈkɔfi/after /ˈæftɚ/afraid /əˈfreɪd/
telephone
/ˈtɛləˌfoʊn/
if /ɪf/
off /ɔf/
life /laɪf/
leaf /lif/
half /hæf/
safe /seɪf/
laugh /læf/
cough /kɔf/
photograph
/ˈfoʊtəˌɡræf/
/f/ Spelled:
“f”
“ph”
“gh”
fat /fæt/
fine /faɪn/
foot /fʊt/
first /fɚst/
stiff /stɪf/
effect /ɪˈfɛkt/
careful /ˈkɛrfəl/
phone /foʊn/
phrase /freɪz/
Philip /ˈfɪlɪp/
physical /ˈfɪzɪkəl/
nephew /ˈnɛfyu/
phonetics
/fəˈnɛtɪks/
telegraph
/ˈtɛləˌɡræf/
rough /rʌf/
tough /tʌf/
laugh /læf/
cough /kɔf/
enough /ɪˈnʌf/
HINTS:
1. The letter f is usually pronounced /f/.
2. The letters ph are usually pronounced /f/.
EXAMPLES:
EXERCISE B
The boldface words in the following phrases and sentences should be pronounced with /f/. Pronounce them as accurately as possible.
half past four
hæf pæst fɔr
before or after
bɪˈfɔr ɔr ˈæftɚ
face the facts.
feɪs ðə fækts
I’m feeling fine.
aɪm ˈfilɪŋ faɪn.
Do me a favor.
du mi ə ˈfeɪvɚ.
Answer the phone.
ˈænsɚ ðə foʊn.
Are you free on Friday afternoon?
ɑr yu fri ɑn ˈfraɪdi ˌæftɚˈnun?
The office is on the first floor.
ði ˈɔfɪs ɪz ɑn ðə fɚst flɔr.
That fellow has a familiar face.
ðæt ˈfɛloʊ hæz ə fəˈmɪlyɚ feɪs.
Do you prefer fish or fowl?
du yu prɪˈfɚ fɪʃ ɔr faʊl?