I as Long E

Sometimes, the letter 'I' can surprise you by sounding like a 'Long E'. Mastering this can make your English sound much more natural, especially with words borrowed from other languages.

How to make it

/i/
close front unrounded
Lips: spread
Tongue: high-front
Voicing: voiced
💡 Smile slightly, tongue high and forward.

1. Push your tongue forward and high in your mouth.
2. Spread your lips slightly, as if you're smiling.
3. Keep your tongue tense and high throughout the sound.

Watch out for

• Pronouncing 'I' as a Short I: Many learners default to the short 'i' sound, as in "sit". Instead, stretch it out to the 'Long E' sound.
• Not fully extending the sound: The 'Long E' is a long vowel. Make sure you hold the sound for its full duration.

Words to try

• pizza
• machine
• routine
• police
• elite
• critique
• cuisine
• magazine

💡 Many words with this 'Long E' sound for 'I' come from other languages, especially French, Italian, or Latin. Thinking about a word's origin can be a helpful clue!