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Quizzes > Foreign Languages

IPA Test: Check Your Phonetic Symbols and Transcription Skills

Quick IPA quiz to check symbols and transcription. Instant results and explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Mario BlautzikUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of phonetic alphabet symbols vowel length and diacritic marks over sky blue background for IPA quiz

This IPA test helps you practice phonetic symbols, vowel length, and basic transcription so you can read the International Phonetic Alphabet with confidence. Want more practice? Try an ipa practice test, challenge yourself with an ipa transcription quiz, or broaden your skills with a phonetics test.

Which IPA symbol represents the voiceless postalveolar fricative as in English "ship"?
ʊ
ʃ (Explanation: ʃ is the voiceless postalveolar fricative)
s
ʒ
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The IPA symbol θ stands for the voiceless dental fricative sound in "thin".
False
True
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Which vowel is a high front unrounded vowel in IPA?
ɑ
ɔ
u
i (Explanation: i represents the close front unrounded vowel)
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In IPA, the colon-like length mark ː indicates that a segment is long.
True
False
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Which symbol represents the voiced alveolar lateral approximant, as in English "leaf"?
ɹ
ɾ
l (Explanation: l is the alveolar lateral approximant)
ɬ
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Which symbol represents the near-close near-front rounded vowel (as in some pronunciations of "foot" in certain languages)?
y
ɪ
ʊ (Explanation: ʊ is the near-close near-back rounded vowel; used here to test rounded near-high vowels)
u
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The diacritic ̃ over a vowel indicates nasalization.
True
False
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Which symbol represents the voiced uvular trill?
r˞
r
ɹ
ʁ (Explanation: ʁ is the voiced uvular trill)
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In IPA, the diacritic ̩ indicates a syllabic consonant when placed below (e.g., n̩).
True
False
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Which of the following is the voiceless retroflex stop?
ʂ
t
t̪
ʈ (Explanation: ʈ is the voiceless retroflex stop)
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Which sequence correctly indicates a palatalized consonant?
tˠ
tʲ (Explanation: superscript ʲ indicates palatalization)
tˤ
tʷ
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The diacritic for pharyngealization is ˠ.
True
False
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Which symbol represents the voiced velar fricative?
ɣ (Explanation: ɣ is the voiced velar fricative)
ɢ
x
ɡ
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The diacritic ̊ above a consonant can indicate voicelessness (devoicing).
False
True
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Which notation indicates labialization as a secondary articulation?
kˤ
kʷ (Explanation: superscript ʷ indicates labialization)
kʲ
kˠ
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Which symbol denotes the voiced palatal nasal?
nʲ
ɲ (Explanation: ɲ is the palatal nasal)
mʲ
ŋ
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The advanced tongue root diacritic is ̙.
True
False
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Which transcription correctly shows a syllabic rhotic (syllabic r-colored vowel) in a narrow American English transcription of "bird"?
bɹ̩
bɜ
bɝː (Explanation: ɝ is a rhoticized mid central vowel; length may be indicated)
bɚ
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Breathy (murmured) voice is indicated by the subscript diacritic ̤ (e.g., b̤).
True
False
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Which symbol indicates simultaneous alveolar and postalveolar sibilance (alveolo-palatal) in the IPA charts?
ʃ
ɕ (Explanation: ɕ is the voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative)
ʂ
ʏ
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recognize IPA Symbols -

    Identify key symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet and match them to their corresponding sounds.

  2. Distinguish Vowel Lengths -

    Differentiate between short and long vowel notations in IPA to understand their impact on pronunciation.

  3. Interpret Diacritic Marks -

    Understand the function of common diacritics and how they modify base phonetic symbols.

  4. Apply Transcription Skills -

    Use IPA conventions to transcribe simple words and phrases accurately.

  5. Analyze Pronunciation Nuances -

    Evaluate subtle differences between similar phonetic sounds for precise articulation.

  6. Reinforce Phonetics Terminology -

    Recall and use essential phonetic terms to describe speech sounds confidently.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Mastering the IPA Chart -

    The IPA chart organizes symbols by articulatory features, grouping vowels on top and consonants below. Familiarize yourself with each cell's place and manner to quickly locate any sound. Refer to the official International Phonetic Association chart for authoritative guidance.

  2. Vowel Quality and Length -

    Distinguish monophthongs (pure vowels) from diphthongs (gliding sounds) by tracking tongue position changes. Use the length mark [˝] to tell beats apart in minimal pairs like "beat" [bi˝t] versus "bit" [bɪt]. This concept is crucial for any IPA quiz or phonetics quiz focused on vowel sounds.

  3. Consonant Classification -

    Identify consonants by place (bilabial, alveolar), manner (stop, fricative), and voicing (voiced vs. voiceless). For instance, [p] is a voiceless bilabial stop, while [b] is its voiced counterpart. Practicing these distinctions will sharpen your skills for the IPA symbols quiz.

  4. Using Diacritic Marks -

    Diacritics like length marks (˝), nasalization (̃), and stress markers (ˈ) refine base symbols for precise pronunciation. For example, [ã] denotes a nasalized "a" as in French "sans," and [ʃ˝] signals a lengthened "sh" sound. Mastering these subtle cues boosts your accuracy in any IPA pronunciation quiz.

  5. Effective Practice Strategies -

    Leverage flashcards, mobile apps, and interactive IPA quiz platforms to reinforce symbol recognition and production. Mnemonic devices like "fan, pan, van" help anchor tongue positions to symbol shapes. Regular drills in a fun phonetics quiz format will build confidence and fluency.

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