/ɛ/ sound vs /eI/ sound

/eI / train

The 'long a' /eɪ/ is a 2-sound vowel. It is the middle sound in the word 'cake' /keɪk/. To pronounce
the sound, begin with the tongue pushed somewhat forward but in a neutral position in the mouth.
Then, as the jaw closes slightly, move the body of the tongue upward until it is near the tooth ridge
similar to the position of a 'i sound' /i/. The front sides of the tongue touch the inside of the top teeth
at the end of the sound.

.Practice:

First practice the sound ɛ.

Close your mouth very little.

eI is a long sound. Move your tongue up a little as you say it.

The e part is long. The I part is very short.

Sound 1 Sound 2

pen pain

wet wait

tell tail

test taste

pepper paper
Spelling:

The sound / eI / is usually written with the letters: a, a…e, ai or ay.

a baby, later, paper, April, station, vacation, famous, table, dangerous, age, alien,
potato,

a…e late, page, same, name, age, take, mistake, plane, made, place, change, taste, able,
agent, angel, cake, wave, safe,

ai train, pain, wait, afraid, Spain, rain, remain, paint, raise, praise, aid, paid, afraid,
attain, faith,

ay day, say, gray, stay, away, today, birthday, May, maybe, play, display, okay,
holiday, yesterday, way

Other spellings:

eigh eight, eighteen, eight- eight, eighth, weigh, weight, neighbor, sleigh

aigh straight

ea great, break, steak

ey they, hey, obey

ei veil, vein