## Vowel Sounds in English: The /iː/ Sound This section focuses on the long E sound, often represented by the letters 'ea', 'ee', 'e', and other combinations. This sound is a high, front, unrounded vowel, phonetically transcribed as /iː/. ### Common Spellings of /iː/ The sound /iː/ isn't always spelled the same way. Here are some common spellings: * **ea:** As in *ea*t, *s*ea*t*, *l*ea*ve*. Notice how the 'ea' combination can represent different sounds depending on the word. * **ee:** As in *s*ee*, *n*ee*t*, *d*ee*p*. The 'ee' spelling is usually a reliable indicator of the /iː/ sound. * **e:** As in *m*e*, *h*e*, *sh*e*. This is less common than 'ea' or 'ee', and often appears in short words. * **e-e:** As in *th*ee*, *k*ee*p*. Don't confuse this with the short 'e' sound. * **ea-e:** As in *r*ea*l*. The 'ea' in 'real' makes the /iː/ sound, not the /ɛ/ sound as in 'bread'. ### Examples and Practice Let's look at some words containing the /iː/ sound, categorized by their spelling: **'ea' spelling:** * **eat:** A verb meaning to consume food. * **tea:** A hot beverage made from steeped leaves. * **neat:** Clean and tidy. * **seat:** A place to sit. * **leave:** To depart from a place. * **dream:** A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring during sleep. * **real:** Actually existing or happening. **'ee' spelling:** * **see:** To perceive with the eyes. * **please:** To express a polite request. * **clean:** Free from dirt or contamination. **'e' spelling:** * **me:** The first-person singular pronoun. * **he:** The third-person singular masculine pronoun. * **she:** The third-person singular feminine pronoun. **Practice:** Try to pronounce the following words aloud and identify the /iː/ sound: *bean, believe, receive, thief, field*. ### Key Takeaways * The /iː/ sound is a long E sound, a high, front, unrounded vowel. * It's frequently spelled with 'ea', 'ee', or 'e', but the spelling isn't always consistent. * Practice is key to mastering the pronunciation and recognizing the different spellings of this common sound. Pay close attention to the context of the word to determine the correct pronunciation, as some spellings can represent different sounds.