Pronounce English Accurately

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Vowel 13: Diphthong /ɪə/

Diphthongs are glides from one vowel position to another, so they are written with two IPA symbols. They count as one English vowel sound and one syllable.

There are three centring diphthongs, in which the tongue moves to the central, schwa position, /ə/.

These are /ɪə/, /eə/ and /ʊə/.

/ɪə/ is the sound in the word 'ear'.

This starts in the position for /ɪ/ and moves to /ə/: /ɪə - ɪə - ɪə/.

The archetypal spellings for /ɪə/ are 'eer' as in 'beer', but also very common is 'ear', as in 'ear'.

The spelling 'ear' is usually this /ɪə/ sound, but occasionally it is /eə/, as in 'tear' (to tear paper).

Examples of /ɪə/ with various spellings:

'eer': 'deer, peer, beer, cheer, jeer, leer, reindeer, mountaineer, auctioneer, pioneer'

'ear': 'hear, tear (eyes), fear, near, beard, clear, gear, rear, smear, shear, weary, appear, dreary'

'ere' is most common at the end of a word: 'here, austere, sincere, revere, severe'

'ier': 'pier, fierce, pierce, tier, cashier, frontier, cavalier, brigadier'

'eir' is rare: 'weir, weird, Madeira'

'ea': 'real, idea'

'ir': 'souvenir'

Practice sentences:

The really fearful meerkats nearly broke down in tears

Leering weirdly the beery cheerleader reeled and fell off the end of the pier.

The austere cashiers in Madeira are fiercer than many an auctioneer.

And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers.