1. i_e

When the letter 'i' is followed by a single consonant and then the letter 'e,' the letter 'i' is usually pronounced as /ɑɪ/.

a. ice /ɑɪs/

 
 

b. hide /hɑɪd/

 
 

c. smile /smɑɪl/

 
 

2. igh

a. light /lɑɪt/

 
 

b. bright /brɑɪt/

 
 

c. sigh /sɑɪ/

 
 

3. ie

Along with the /ɑɪ/ pronunciation, the 'ie' spelling has words that are pronounced as 'long e' /i/ (such as the word 'brief' /brif/. It is also occasionally pronounced as two adjacent vowel sounds (such as the words 'quiet' /kwɑɪ ət/ and 'science' /sɑɪ əns/). Consult a dictionary to be certain of the pronunciation of unfamiliar words spelled 'ie.'

a. tie /tɑɪ/

 
 

b. pie /pɑɪ/

 
 

c. die /dɑɪ/

 
 

4. -y

The letter 'y' at the end of a word can also be pronounced as a 'long e' /i/ sound, as in the word 'happy' /hæpi/

a. shy /ʃɑɪ/

 
 

b. sky /skɑɪ/

 
 

c. dry /drɑɪ/

 
 

5. -y-

The letter 'y' in the middle of a word has two common pronunciations, the /ɑɪ/ and the 'short i' /ɪ/ as in the word 'symbol' /sɪmbəl/.

a. cycle /sɑɪkl/

 
 

b. dynamic /dɑɪnæmɪk/

 
 

c. hyper /hɑɪpɚ/