/aɪ/ — the FLY vowel as in fly, time, night

Main spellings (~90%)

⟨i_e⟩ ~55%

The split digraph ⟨i_e⟩ (i + consonant + silent e) is the most common spelling in closed syllables.

⟨i⟩ ~25%

Plain ⟨i⟩ makes this sound before certain consonant clusters (especially -nd, -ld, -gh) and in open syllables.

⟨y⟩ ~10%

The letter ⟨y⟩ spells this sound at the end of short words.

Unusual spellings (~10%)

⟨igh⟩

The spelling ⟨igh⟩ is 100% reliable for this sound — it never makes any other sound.

⟨ie⟩

A small group of common words spell this sound with ⟨ie⟩ at the end.

⟨ui⟩

After ⟨g⟩, the spelling ⟨ui⟩ can make this sound.

⟨eye⟩

⟨ia⟩

In a few words, ⟨ia⟩ spells /aɪ/.

⟨ei⟩

⟨oy⟩

Just one common word where ⟨oy⟩ makes /aɪ/ instead of the usual /ɔɪ/.

⟨eigh⟩

In a few words, ⟨eigh⟩ spells /aɪ/ instead of the more common /eɪ/.

⟨aye⟩

An old-fashioned or nautical word meaning "yes."

⟨ai⟩

In some borrowed words, ⟨ai⟩ spells /aɪ/ instead of the usual /eɪ/.

⟨a⟩

Rare — in a few French loanwords.

/aɪ/ vs /ɪ/