Phonetic Spelling Generator

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) uses special symbols for precise pronunciation but requires training to read. Phonetic respelling uses standard English letters in intuitive ways (like "ee" for the long E sound) that anyone can understand immediately.

English spelling reflects historical pronunciation from centuries ago, borrowed words from many languages, and the Great Vowel Shift that changed pronunciation without updating spelling. The result is a language where spelling often doesn't match modern pronunciation.

Read each syllable as it looks, emphasizing capitalized syllables (which indicate stress). Common patterns: "ee" = long E (see), "oo" = long U (boot), "ay" = long A (say), "eye" = long I (my), "uh" = unstressed vowel (about).

Phonetic spelling typically represents standard American English pronunciation. Regional accents may pronounce words differently. For example, "aunt" might be respelled "ant" or "ahnt" depending on whether you use American or British pronunciation.

Yes, phonetic spelling is especially useful for names. Pronunciation guides help others say unfamiliar names correctly, which is valuable for introductions, presentations, and professional communication. It's considerate to provide pronunciation for unusual names.