How to pronounce /æ/

vowel · voiced · Both British & American

Practice target: RP — Received Pronunciation

Simplified illustration, not measured anatomy. Use the written cue and recorded examples together.

How to make it

Low and front. Drop the jaw, tongue stays forward — sounds 'flat'.

Common slip: Often confused with /ɛ/. Drop the jaw further for /æ/.

Drop the jaw while keeping the tongue forward; avoid substituting /ɛ/.

Use this repeatable synthesized model for the controlled word set. It is a practice reference, not a universal answer key for every speaker.

“trap, cat. trap, cat.”

Record the controlled word set and receive automated practice feedback. Scores are estimates, not expert or clinical diagnoses.

Choose a scene, then try one example word in a natural reply. This focus is self-directed, not a sound-specific assessment.