The vowel sound /i/

The /i/: long, tense and smiling

The /i/ is the highest, most forward vowel in English, and the longest. It resembles the Spanish i, but it lasts longer and comes out with more tension in the lips. It's the partner of /ɪ/, and mixing the two is the single most common pronunciation error among Spanish speakers.

How it's made

• 👄 Mouth: lips spread to the sides, as in a smile.
• 👅 Tongue: far forward and very high, almost touching the palate.
• 🔊 Voice: voiced, long and tense — hold it.

You hear it in: sleep · eat · please · see · green

⚠️ The typical Spanish-speaker mistake: pronouncing /ɪ/ and /i/ the same. Shorten the /i/ and feet becomes fit, leave becomes live.

By the end you'll be able to: lengthen and tense the /i/ until feet / fit and leave / live are clearly apart.