Help:Pronunciation
Overview
This help page explains how to add pronunciations to Wikipedia pages using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), audio files, and common templates. It also covers style guidelines, references, and troubleshooting.
Why include pronunciation?
- Clarifies how names and terms are spoken in different languages.
- Aids readers unfamiliar with specific orthographies.
- Standardizes representation via IPA for consistency across pages.
The basics: IPA on Wikipedia
Wikipedia uses the IPA to represent sounds across languages. For English entries, use the specific helper templates:
- {{IPA-en}} — English IPA
- {{IPA-xx}} — Replace “xx” with a language code (e.g., {{IPA-fr}}, {{IPA-de}}, {{IPA-ru}})
- {{IPA}} — Generic IPA (when no language-specific helper fits)
- {{IPAc-en}} — Component-based English IPA with tooltips
Example (English):
- Worcester pronounced /ˈwʊstər/ → displays an English IPA reading.
Example (French):
- Bordeaux Template:IPA-fr → French IPA reading.
Placement and formatting
Place the pronunciation immediately after the term on first mention, usually in the lead sentence:
- Paris (/ˈpærɪs/; French: Template:IPA-fr) is the capital of France.
Formatting tips:
- Use a semicolon to separate multiple-language pronunciations.
- Use slashes /…/ for phonemic and brackets [ … ] for phonetic detail when needed.
- Keep the lead concise; move detailed phonology to a dedicated section if lengthy.
Using IPA templates
{{IPA-en}} (quick English)
- {{IPA-en|ˈwʊstər}} → English pronunciation: /ˈwʊstər/
{{IPAc-en}} (tooltipped, component-based)
- {{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ʊ|s|t|ər}} → /ˈwʊstər/
Pros: Per-symbol tooltips, consistent spacing. Cons: Slightly verbose to type.
{{IPA-xx}} for other languages
- Spanish: {{IPA-es|espaˈɲol}} → Template:IPA-es
- German: {{IPA-de|ˈkøln}} → Template:IPA-de
Language-specific notes
- English: Prefer {{IPAc-en}} or {{IPA-en}} and align with Help:IPA/English.
- French: Use {{IPA-fr}}; see Help:IPA/French.
- German: {{IPA-de}}; see Help:IPA/German.
- Mandarin: Provide pinyin and tone marks alongside IPA if helpful (e.g., {{IPA-zh}} + pinyin).
- Japanese: Hepburn romanization plus IPA ({{IPA-ja}}) when needed.
- If a language is not covered by an {{IPA-xx}} helper, use {{IPA}} and reference a reliable source.
Adding audio pronunciation
You can add audio with uploaded OGG/OPUS files:
- [[File:En-us-example.ogg|thumb|upright=0.75|English pronunciation]]
Inline, compact audio (no thumbnail):
- [[File:En-us-example.ogg|audio]]
Combine IPA + audio:
- Dvorak English pronunciation: /dvəˈrɑːk/
Cite the audio’s source in the file description page. Avoid low-quality or synthesized audio if possible.
Referencing pronunciations
Provide a citation for non-obvious or potentially controversial pronunciations, especially for:
- Proper names, regional variants, or uncommon loans.
- Multiple accepted forms with differing stress or vowels.
Example with a named reference:
- Nevada English pronunciation: /nɪˈvædə/[1] vs. English pronunciation: /nɪˈvɑːdə/[2]
Reusing a reference:
Common mistakes
- Mixing phonemic slashes and phonetic brackets incorrectly: use /…/ for underlying contrasts, [ … ] for surface details.
- Using ad-hoc respellings instead of IPA/approved respelling templates.
- Uncited contentious variants (e.g., regional vs. standard).
- Overloading the lead with multiple dialects; summarize and link to a section.
Dialectal and variant pronunciations
If significant variants exist, present the most widespread or standardized first, then list well-sourced regional forms:
- tomato English pronunciation: /təˈmeɪtoʊ/; UK also English pronunciation: /təˈmɑːtəʊ/.[4]
Use bullets if more than two or when clarity benefits.
Advanced: phonetic detail
When adding narrow transcriptions:
- Keep in article body or a dedicated “Pronunciation” section.
- Briefly explain symbols unfamiliar to general readers.
- Prefer sources with explicit IPA (e.g., grammars, pronunciation dictionaries).
Minimal example (copy–paste)
'''ExampleTerm''' ({{IPA-en|ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl}}; French: {{IPA-fr|ɛɡzɑ̃pl}}) is ...
[[File:En-us-example.ogg|audio]]
== Pronunciation ==
* English: {{IPA-en|ɪɡˈzæmpəl}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexico.com/definition/example|title=Lexico – example}}</ref>
* French: {{IPA-fr|ɛɡzɑ̃pl}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/exemple|title=CNRTL – exemple}}</ref>
{{reflist}}
Gallery (illustrative only)
Pronunciation helps readers engage with content
Special markup demo
Inline math for stress index: "yahoo". →[3]
reference group[firstgroup 1]
|
See also
References
- ↑ "Nevada – Merriam‑Webster Dictionary".
- ↑ "OED".
- 1 2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:0 - ↑ "Cambridge Dictionary – tomato".