How to Pronounce the 'oy' Sound in English (as in 'toy' and 'boy')

The 'oy' sound, also spelled 'oi', is a common diphthong in English. A diphthong is a vowel sound that glides from one vowel to another within the same syllable. In this case, the sound starts with an 'o' sound and moves towards an 'i' sound.

This guide will teach you how to pronounce the 'oy' sound correctly and confidently.

How to Make the 'oy' Sound /ɔɪ/

The 'oy' sound is a combination of two vowel sounds: the /ɔ/ sound (as in "dog" or "all") and the /ɪ/ sound (as in "sit").

1. Start with the /ɔ/ sound: Your jaw should be low, your lips rounded, and the back of your tongue raised.
2. Glide to the /ɪ/ sound: From the /ɔ/ position, raise your jaw and spread your lips as you move into the /ɪ/ sound.

It's a smooth, gliding sound: "o-i".

Common Spellings for the 'oy' Sound

There are two common ways to spell the 'oy' sound:

• oy (usually at the end of a word)
• oi (usually in the middle of a word)

Examples with 'oy':

• boy /bɔɪ/
• toy /tɔɪ/
• enjoy /ɛnˈdʒɔɪ/
• annoy /əˈnɔɪ/

Examples with 'oi':

• coin /kɔɪn/
• voice /vɔɪs/
• noise /nɔɪz/
• choice /tʃɔɪs/

Minimal Pairs: Practice Your Pronunciation

Let's practice with some minimal pairs to help you distinguish the 'oy' sound from other similar vowel sounds.

<MinimalPairCollection pairs={[ { word1: 'boy', ipa1: '/bɔɪ/', meaning1: 'a male child', word2: 'buy', ipa2: '/baɪ/', meaning2: 'to purchase' }, { word1: 'coin', ipa1: '/kɔɪn/', meaning1: 'a piece of money', word2: 'cone', ipa2: '/koʊn/', meaning2: 'a geometric shape' }, { word1: 'voice', ipa1: '/vɔɪs/', meaning1: 'sound from the mouth', word2: 'vase', ipa2: '/veɪs/', meaning2: 'a container for flowers' }, { word1: 'toil', ipa1: '/tɔɪl/', meaning1: 'hard work', word2: 'tall', ipa2: '/tɔl/', meaning2: 'of great height' } ]} />

Practice Sentences

Ready to practice? Try reading these sentences out loud:

1. The boy found a coin for his toy.
2. I enjoy the noise of the voices.
3. It's my choice to avoid the annoying boy.

Mastering the 'oy' sound will help you speak English more clearly and naturally. Keep practicing, and you'll be making the sound with ease!