Chips are cheap
It may be difficult at first to hear the different vowel sounds in chip and cheap . As a result, some English learners may pronounce both words exactly in the same way. This and these – or it and eat – are often confused for the same reason. Although context usually helps the listener understand what we mean, getting these sounds right will make things a lot easier. When dealing with pronunciation, it's useful to use a specific symbol to identify each sound. The vowel in cheap , these and eat – represented by /i:/ – is a bit longer, and the lips are spread when pronouncing it – just like when you smile or when you say cheese . The sound in chip , this and it , represented by /ɪ/, is shorter and a bit closer to /e/. The longer vowel /i:/ is often spelt with a combination of two letters – as in please , meet , or key . But not always – you can find this sound in me and she , for example. Besides, /ɪ/ may also be spelt in various ways – busy , minute . So when learnin