The 'e' Vowel Unveiled
An exploration of the close-mid front unrounded vowel, its characteristics, and global presence.
What is [e]? 👇 Language Examples 🌍Dive in with Flashcard Learning!
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮
Introducing the Close-Mid Front Unrounded Vowel
Defining the Sound
The close-mid front unrounded vowel, also referred to as the high-mid front unrounded vowel, is a specific type of vowel sound utilized in various spoken languages. Its representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is the symbol e.
It is important to distinguish this sound from the near-close front unrounded vowel, which is often transcribed with i or ɪ. This guide focuses specifically on the vowel represented by the IPA symbol e.
Key Phonetic Features
Vowel Height: Close-Mid
This classification indicates that the tongue is positioned halfway between that of a close vowel (high tongue position) and a mid vowel. It represents a relatively high, but not the highest, position in the mouth.
Vowel Backness: Front
The tongue is positioned forward in the mouth. Crucially, this positioning does not create a constriction significant enough to be classified as a consonant sound.
Roundedness: Unrounded
The lips are held in a neutral, relaxed position. They are not protruded or rounded, which is a key differentiator from other front vowels like [y] or [ø].
Global Occurrence
Languages Featuring [e]
The close-mid front unrounded vowel [e] is a common sound found across numerous languages worldwide. Its precise phonetic realization can vary slightly depending on the surrounding sounds and the specific dialect.
Standardized Representations
IPA and Beyond
The close-mid front unrounded vowel has several standardized representations for linguistic and computational purposes:
- IPA Number: 302
- IPA Symbol: e
- Unicode: U+0065
- X-SAMPA:
e
Braille Representation
In the context of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Braille system, the close-mid front unrounded vowel is represented by a specific braille pattern:
The pattern corresponds to dots 1 and 5. This ensures accessibility for visually impaired individuals familiar with Braille.
IPA Vowel Chart Context
Locating [e]
The IPA vowel chart visually organizes vowel sounds based on tongue position. The close-mid front unrounded vowel [e] is situated in the upper-left quadrant, signifying its close-mid height and front tongue position, with unrounded lips.
Front | Central | Back | |
---|---|---|---|
Close |
i
y
|
ɨ
ʉ
|
ɯ
u
|
Near-close |
ɪ
ʏ
|
ʊ
|
|
Close-mid |
ɘ
ɵ
|
ɤ
o
|
|
Mid |
e̞
ø̞
|
ə
|
ɤ̞
o̞
|
Open-mid |
ɛ
œ
|
ɜ
ɞ
|
ʌ
ɔ
|
Near-open |
æ
|
ɐ
|
|
Open |
a
ɶ
|
ä
|
ɑ
ɒ
|
- IPA help
- 🔊 audio
- full chart
- template
Related Phonetic Concepts
Further Exploration
Understanding the close-mid front unrounded vowel often involves exploring related phonetic concepts:
- Index of phonetics articles
- General Vowel Classification
- International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
- Close-mid Vowel Characteristics
- Front Vowel Articulation
Important Notes
Clarifications
- While the International Phonetic Association uses "close" and "open" for vowel height, "high" and "low" are also common linguistic terms.
- The precise phonetic realization of [e] can vary, sometimes bordering on near-close or mid height depending on the language and context.
- IPA symbols and their pronunciations can differ slightly across various transcription conventions and regional dialects.
References
Source Materials
The information presented here is derived from established phonetic and linguistic research.
Test Your Knowledge
Assess Your Understanding
Engage with the following questions to reinforce your grasp of the close-mid front unrounded vowel.
Teacher's Corner
Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Click here to open the "Close-mid Front Unrounded Vowel" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit
Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.
True or False?
Test Your Knowledge!
Gamer's Corner
Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!
Play now
References
References
- Wissing (2016), section "The unrounded mid-front vowel /É/".
- Traunmüller (1982), cited in Ladefoged & Maddieson (1996:290)
- Mikael Madeg, Traité de prononciation du breton du Nord-Ouest à lâusage des bretonnants, Emgleo Breiz, Brest, 2010
- Dudenredaktion, Kleiner & Knöbl (2015), p. 34.
- Dudenredaktion, Kleiner & Knöbl (2015), pp. 64â65.
- Dudenredaktion, Kleiner & Knöbl (2015), p. 64.
- Å uÅ¡tarÅ¡iÄ, Komar & Petek (1999), p. 137.
Feedback & Support
To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.
Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not linguistic or phonetic advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional linguistic analysis or consultation. Always refer to authoritative linguistic resources and consult with qualified phoneticians or linguists for specific applications or detailed analysis.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.