From plain text to phonetic precision.
A simple, helpful tool for turning English text into its phonetic form using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Whether you're learning a new language, preparing for a performance, or just curious about how words really sound, this app makes pronunciation more accessible.
| IPA | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| /i/ | Long E | beet |
| /ɪ/ | Short I | bit |
| /eɪ/ | A as in cake | cake |
| /ɛ/ | Short E | bed |
| /æ/ | Short A | cat |
| /ɑ/ | Open A | father |
| /ɔ/ | AW sound | thought |
| /oʊ/ | Long O | go |
| /ʊ/ | Short U | book |
| /u/ | Long U | food |
| /ʌ/ | Stressed UH | cup |
| /ə/ | Schwa | sofa |
| /aɪ/ | Long I | time |
| /aʊ/ | OW sound | house |
| /ɔɪ/ | OY sound | boy |
| /p/ | P sound | pin |
| /b/ | B sound | bat |
| /t/ | T sound | top |
| /d/ | D sound | dog |
| /k/ | K sound | cat |
| /ɡ/ | Hard G | go |
| /f/ | F sound | fish |
| /v/ | V sound | van |
| /θ/ | Soft TH | think |
| /ð/ | Hard TH | this |
| /s/ | S sound | sun |
| /z/ | Z sound | zoo |
| /ʃ/ | SH sound | ship |
| /ʒ/ | ZH sound | measure |
| /tʃ/ | CH sound | cheese |
| /dʒ/ | J sound | juice |
| /h/ | H sound | hat |
| /m/ | M sound | man |
| /n/ | N sound | net |
| /ŋ/ | NG sound | sing |
| /l/ | L sound | lamp |
| /ɹ/ | R sound | red |
| /j/ | Y sound | yes |
| /w/ | W sound | win |
| /ɝ/ | Stressed ER | bird |
This is a personal prototype designed to explore how phonetic transcription tools can be made more accessible, friendly, and useful—especially for learners who might be intimidated by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
SayWhat?! IPA helps actors, linguists, singers, language learners, and ESL students convert English text into its IPA form—making pronunciation support more visual and interactive. It uses real-time feedback and hoverable tooltips to demystify symbols and support better understanding.
I wrote all the UI text, tooltips, and interface content with an emphasis on clarity and tone. My goal was to make the app feel simple and helpful—not overly academic. From the tagline to the tooltip copy, every word was chosen to lower barriers and support curiosity.
This app was also an opportunity for me to prototype something end-to-end using plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I used AI tools to support development, refined UI and interaction details through iteration, and explored how even a small tool can deliver clarity through thoughtful design and language.