What is a pronunciation key?

A pronunciation key, also known as a pronunciation guide or phonetic transcription, is a system of symbols used to represent the sounds of words. It provides a way to indicate how words are pronounced, especially in dictionaries or language learning materials, where the pronunciation of words may differ from their spelling. The key helps users understand the correct way to pronounce words by using specific symbols or combinations of symbols that represent the individual sounds or phonemes.

A pronunciation key, also known as a phonetic transcription or pronunciation guide, is a set of symbols or characters used to represent the sounds of words. It helps indicate how each individual sound in a word is pronounced. Pronunciation keys are often used in dictionaries, language learning materials, and linguistic studies to provide guidance on how words are pronounced in a specific language.