Proper Pronunciation Guide
coffee
[
kɔ fi]
Tips:
- Pronounce the first vowel—spelled “o”—as /ɔ/, like the sound of disappointment, “Awwwww!” Do not pronounce it as/ɑ/, /o/, or /uɔ/.
- Pronounce the letters “ee” like the name of the letter “e”—/i/—and lengthen it slightly because it is final.
Practice Sentences:
| May I have some coffee, please? | |
| She made coffee for everyone. |
Notes:
During George W. Bush’s presidency, the head of the U.N. was Kofi Annan [ˏko͜u fiæ nən]. The playwright, Jim Sherman, in an update of an old Abbot and Costello routine, “Who’s on First”, reports a conversation in the oval office between Condaleeza Rice and George Bush, in which George says to Condi, “Just get me the guy at the U.N.” She replies “Kofi?” and he says “All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone.” She then picks up the phone and says, “Rice here.” George says, “Rice? Good idea. And a couple of egg rolls, too.”