SAMPA Chart: Definition and Links by Encyclopedian.com

SAMPA charts of consonants and vowels

See a concise version of SAMPA for English sounds. Note that you will need a font that supports the Unicode IPA Extensions (http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/unicode/ipa-extensions.html) to see the IPA characters.

SAMPA: simplified chart of consonants
(the paired signs are voiceless/voiced consonants)

Bilabial Labiodentals Dentals Alveolars Postalveolars[?] Palatals Velars Uvulars Pharyngeals[?] Glottals

Stops
or affricates
p b

t d

tS dZ

c J\

k g

q G\

?

Fricatives
P B

f v

T D

s z

S Z

C j\

x G

X R

X\ ?\

h h\

Nasals m F n J N

Laterals l L 5

Rhotics (flaps or trills)

4

r

r\`

R

Semivowels w
H j

'Note': It is (specially in Spanish and Italian) common use to represent the alveolar trill with [rr] and the alveolar flap with [r]. In Spanish, too, [jj] is used to represent the palatal fricative against the semivowel [j]. It has been proposed to use [4] for the alveolar flap, in which case [r] can be used to represent the trill (as its equivalent in the IPA system), and [j\] for the palatal fricative, keeping in this way the policy of using one letter per one IPA symbol (The backslash is used to generate alternative symbols).

Consonant modifiers:

[ ` ] after a consonant indicates retroflex.
[ -a ] apical (IPA subscript inverted bridge): [s-a] apical 's'
[ -d ] dental (IPA subscript bridge)
[ -G ] velarized diacritic (IPA superscipt gamma)
[ -h ] aspirated diacritic (IPA superscript h)
[ -j, ' ] palatalized. (IPA superscript j)
[ -m ] laminal (IPA subscript box)
[ -w ] labialized diacritic (IPA superscript w)
[ -< ] implosive (voiced stops) (IPA hooktop)
[ -> ] ejective (voiceless stops)
[ -=, =] syllabic, as in bird [br\`=d], bottle ["bOtl=], button ["bVtn=]

SAMPA: simplified list of consonants

SAMPA IPA Description Examples

p p voiceless bilabial stop English pen

b b voiced bilabial stop English but

t t voiceless alveolar stop English two

d d voiced alveolar stop English do

tS ʧ voiceless postalveolar affricate English chair, picture, Spanish mucho, Italian cena, German Deutsche

dZ ʤ voiced postalveolar affricate English gin, joy, Italian giorno

c c voiceless palatal stop Greek [ce] 'and'

J\ j (overstroked j) voiced palatal stop ??

k k voiceless velar stop English cat, kill, queen

g g voiced velar stop English go, get

q q voiceless uvular stop Arabic qof

p\ φ (Greek phi) voiceless bilabial fricative Japanese fu

B β (Greek beta) voiced bilabial fricative Spanish cabo, calvo

f f voiceless labiodental fricative English fool, enough

v v voiced labiodental fricative English voice, German Welt, Italian vedere

T θ (Greek theta) voiceless dental fricative English thing, Castilian Spanish caza

D ð (Icelandic eth), or δ (Greek delta) voiced dental fricative English this, Castillian Spanish juzgado(*)

s s voiceless alveolar fricative English see, pass, city, Spanish sí, German Gross, Italian suono

z z voiced alveolar fricative English zoo, roses, German See, Spanish riesgo, Italian casa

S ʃ voiceless postalveolar fricative English she, sure, emotion, French chemin, Italian scendo, German Sprache

Z ʒ voiced postalveolar fricative French jour, English pleasure, Argentinian Spanish lluvia

C ç (cedilla) voiceless palatal fricative German Ich, Greek [Ceri] 'hand', some English pronunciations of human

j\ (jj) ʝ (j with crossed tail) voiced palatal fricative Spanish yate, hielo

x x voiceless velar fricative Scots loch, Castillian Spanish ajo, German Buch

G γ (Greek gamma) voiced velar fricative Spanish algo, agua

h h voiceless glottal fricative English ham, German Hand

h\ ɦ (h with upper tail to the right) voiced glottal fricative Some English pronunciations of aha

m m bilabial nasal English man

F ɱ (m with downward right tail) labiodental nasal Spanish infierno, enfermo

n n alveolar nasal English, Spanish and Italian no

J ɲ (n with downward left tail) palatal nasal US English canyon, Spanish año, French oignion, Italian gnocchi, Hungarian anyu

N ŋ (n with downward right tail) velar nasal English singer, ring

l l alveolar lateral English left

L ʎ turned down y, alt. λ (Greek lambda) palatal lateral Italian aglio, Catalan colla, Castillian Spanish cuello

5 ɫ (l with middle tilde) velarized dental lateral English milk (dark l), Catalan alga

4 (r) ɾ (r without upper-left serif) alveolar flap US English better, Spanish pero, Italian essere

r (rr) ɽ (r with serif) alveolar trill Spanish perro, rey, Italian arrivare

r\` ɻ (r rotate 180° with hook retroflexed alveolar approximant English run, very

R ʀ (small capital R) uvular trill French rue, standard German Reich, Farb

w w rounded back semivowel English we, Frech oui, Spanish hueso, Italian acqua

H ɥ (turned down h) rounded front semivowel French <i>huit

j j unrounded front semivowel English yes, Frech yeux, German ja, Italian occhio

(* Somebody help here: The d in spanish cada does not correspond to the ð, although many people believe it does. It is represented by đ, but I don't know if the SAMPA has a symbol for it.)

SAMPA: simplified chart of vowels
(the paired signs are unrounded/rounded vowels)

Front Central Back

Closed or high
i
I y
Y

1 }

M
u
U

Half closed
e 2

@\ 8

@
7 o

Half open
E 9

3 3\

6
V O

Open or low
{

a &

A Q

Vowel modifiers:

[ ~, -~ ] after a vowel indicates that it is nasalised (e.g. French bon [bO~] ).
[ : ] after a vowel indicates that it is lengthened (e.g. Japanese shōshō [So:So:], English see [si:] ).
[ ` ] after a vowel indicates rhoticity (e.g. US English bird [b3`d] ).
[ -^ ] non syllabic vowel (IPA subscript arch)

SAMPA: simplified list of vowels

SAMPA IPA Description Examples

i i front closed unrounded vowel English see, Spanish sí, French vite, German mieten, Italian visto

I small capital I front closed unrounded vowel, but somewhat more centralised and relaxed English city, German mit

e e front half closed unrounded vowel US English bear, Spanish él, French année, German mehr, Italian rete, Catalan més

E ε (Greek epsilon) front half open unrounded vowel English bed, French même, German Herr, Italian ferro, Catalan mes, Spanish perro

{ ae ligature, æ front open unrounded vowel English cat

y y front closed rounded vowel French du, German Tür

2 slashed o, ø front half closed rounded vowel French deux (hence '2'), German Höhle

9 oe ligature, œ front half open rounded vowel French neuf (hence '9'), German Hölle

1 overstroked i, i central closed unrounded vowel Russian [m1s] 'mouse'

@ ə (turned down e) schwa central neutral unrounded vowel English about, winner, German bitte

6 ɐ (turned down a) open schwa central neutral unrounded vowel German besser

3 ɜ (Greek epsilon mirrored to the left) front half open unrounded vowel, but somewhat more centralised and relaxed English bird

a a central open vowel Spanish da, barra, French bateau, lac, German Haar, Italian pazzo

} overstroked u, u central closed rounded vowel Scottish English pool, Swedish sju

8 overstroked o, o central neutral rounded vowel Swedish kust

& small capital OE ligature, ɶ front open rounded vowel ??

M ɯ (upside-down m) back closed unrounded vowel Japanese fuji, Vietnamese ư Korean 으

7 ɤ (squeezed Greek gamma) back half closed unrounded vowel Vietnamese ơ Korean 어

V ʌ (turned down v) back half open unrounded vowel RP and US English run, enough

A ɑ ('d' with no upper tail) back open unrounded vowel English arm, US English law, standard French âme

u u back closed rounded vowel English soon, Spanish tú, French goût, German Hut, Mutter, Italian azzurro, tutto

U ʊ (turned down small capital Greek omega) back closed rounded vowel somewhat more centralised and relaxed English put, Buddhist

o o back half closed rounded vowel US English sore, Scottish English boat, Spanish yo, French beau, German Sohle, Italian dove, Catalan ona

O ɔ (c mirrored to the left) back half open rounded vowel English law, caught, Italian uomo, Catalan dona, Spanish gorra

Q ɒ ('b' with no upper tail) back open rounded vowel British English not, cough, German Toll

SAMPA: simplified list of consonants
SAMPA	IPA	Description	Examples
p	p	voiceless bilabial stop	English pen
b	b	voiced bilabial stop	English but
t	t	voiceless alveolar stop	English two
d	d	voiced alveolar stop	English do
tS	ʧ	voiceless postalveolar affricate	English chair, picture, Spanish mucho, Italian cena, German Deutsche
dZ	ʤ	voiced postalveolar affricate	English gin, joy, Italian giorno
c	c	voiceless palatal stop	Greek [ce] 'and'
J\	j (overstroked j)	voiced palatal stop	??
k	k	voiceless velar stop	English cat, kill, queen
g	g	voiced velar stop	English go, get
q	q	voiceless uvular stop	Arabic qof
p\	φ (Greek phi)	voiceless bilabial fricative	Japanese fu
B	β (Greek beta)	voiced bilabial fricative	Spanish cabo, calvo
f	f	voiceless labiodental fricative	English fool, enough
v	v	voiced labiodental fricative	English voice, German Welt, Italian vedere
T	θ (Greek theta)	voiceless dental fricative	English thing, Castilian Spanish caza
D	ð (Icelandic eth), or δ (Greek delta)	voiced dental fricative	English this, Castillian Spanish juzgado(*)
s	s	voiceless alveolar fricative	English see, pass, city, Spanish sí, German Gross, Italian suono
z	z	voiced alveolar fricative	English zoo, roses, German See, Spanish riesgo, Italian casa
S	ʃ	voiceless postalveolar fricative	English she, sure, emotion, French chemin, Italian scendo, German Sprache
Z	ʒ	voiced postalveolar fricative	French jour, English pleasure, Argentinian Spanish lluvia
C	ç (cedilla)	voiceless palatal fricative	German Ich, Greek [Ceri] 'hand', some English pronunciations of human
j\ (jj)	ʝ (j with crossed tail)	voiced palatal fricative	Spanish yate, hielo
x	x	voiceless velar fricative	Scots loch, Castillian Spanish ajo, German Buch
G	γ (Greek gamma)	voiced velar fricative	Spanish algo, agua
h	h	voiceless glottal fricative	English ham, German Hand
h\	ɦ (h with upper tail to the right)	voiced glottal fricative	Some English pronunciations of aha
m	m	bilabial nasal	English man
F	ɱ (m with downward right tail)	labiodental nasal	Spanish infierno, enfermo
n	n	alveolar nasal	English, Spanish and Italian no
J	ɲ (n with downward left tail)	palatal nasal	US English canyon, Spanish año, French oignion, Italian gnocchi, Hungarian anyu
N	ŋ (n with downward right tail)	velar nasal	English singer, ring
l	l	alveolar lateral	English left
L	ʎ turned down y, alt. λ (Greek lambda)	palatal lateral	Italian aglio, Catalan colla, Castillian Spanish cuello
5	ɫ (l with middle tilde)	velarized dental lateral	English milk (dark l), Catalan alga
4 (r)	ɾ (r without upper-left serif)	alveolar flap	US English better, Spanish pero, Italian essere
r (rr)	ɽ (r with serif)	alveolar trill	Spanish perro, rey, Italian arrivare
r\`	ɻ (r rotate 180° with hook	retroflexed alveolar approximant	English run, very
R	ʀ (small capital R)	uvular trill	French rue, standard German Reich, Farb
w	w	rounded back semivowel	English we, Frech oui, Spanish hueso, Italian acqua
H	ɥ (turned down h)	rounded front semivowel	French <i>huit
j	j	unrounded front semivowel	English yes, Frech yeux, German ja, Italian occhio

SAMPA: simplified list of vowels
SAMPA	IPA	Description	Examples
i	i	front closed unrounded vowel	English see, Spanish sí, French vite, German mieten, Italian visto
I	small capital I	front closed unrounded vowel, but somewhat more centralised and relaxed	English city, German mit
e	e	front half closed unrounded vowel	US English bear, Spanish él, French année, German mehr, Italian rete, Catalan més
E	ε (Greek epsilon)	front half open unrounded vowel	English bed, French même, German Herr, Italian ferro, Catalan mes, Spanish perro
{	ae ligature, æ	front open unrounded vowel	English cat
y	y	front closed rounded vowel	French du, German Tür
2	slashed o, ø	front half closed rounded vowel	French deux (hence '2'), German Höhle
9	oe ligature, œ	front half open rounded vowel	French neuf (hence '9'), German Hölle
1	overstroked i, i	central closed unrounded vowel	Russian [m1s] 'mouse'
@	ə (turned down e) schwa	central neutral unrounded vowel	English about, winner, German bitte
6	ɐ (turned down a) open schwa	central neutral unrounded vowel	German besser
3	ɜ (Greek epsilon mirrored to the left)	front half open unrounded vowel, but somewhat more centralised and relaxed	English bird
a	a	central open vowel	Spanish da, barra, French bateau, lac, German Haar, Italian pazzo
}	overstroked u, u	central closed rounded vowel	Scottish English pool, Swedish sju
8	overstroked o, o	central neutral rounded vowel	Swedish kust
&	small capital OE ligature, ɶ	front open rounded vowel	??
M	ɯ (upside-down m)	back closed unrounded vowel	Japanese fuji, Vietnamese ư Korean 으
7	ɤ (squeezed Greek gamma)	back half closed unrounded vowel	Vietnamese ơ Korean 어
V	ʌ (turned down v)	back half open unrounded vowel	RP and US English run, enough
A	ɑ ('d' with no upper tail)	back open unrounded vowel	English arm, US English law, standard French âme
u	u	back closed rounded vowel	English soon, Spanish tú, French goût, German Hut, Mutter, Italian azzurro, tutto
U	ʊ (turned down small capital Greek omega)	back closed rounded vowel somewhat more centralised and relaxed	English put, Buddhist
o	o	back half closed rounded vowel	US English sore, Scottish English boat, Spanish yo, French beau, German Sohle, Italian dove, Catalan ona
O	ɔ (c mirrored to the left)	back half open rounded vowel	English law, caught, Italian uomo, Catalan dona, Spanish gorra
Q	ɒ ('b' with no upper tail)	back open rounded vowel	British English not, cough, German Toll