From IR to eternity (IR notes)

/ɜ:/ Notes

1. circuitous
   Students of ESOL should note that this has 4 syllables, the second and third being /ju:ɪ/ (although the word circuit has only 2). Note also that the Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has /ə/ in the first syllable.
2. extirpate
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has /ə/. The word is rarely used, and when it is a precise enunciation (with /ɜ:/) is common.
3. firsthand
   This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because it is entirely metaphorical.
4. headfirst
   This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because it is largely metaphorical - always, except when referring to an actual physical plunge.
5. jailbird
   This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because a jailbird is not a bird.
6. lovebird
   This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because a lovebird is not - in the more common, metaphorical sense - a bird.
7. stillbirth
   This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because what is born is more than just "still".
8. yardbird
   This escapes the usual exclusioin of compounds because it is not a bird (and the "yard" in question is of a particular sort).

/ɪ/ Notes

1. aspirateɪ
   In the adjective. the last syllable is /ət/. In the verb. the last syllable is /eɪt/.
2. direct, direction, directionless, directive, directly, directorate, directorial, directorship, directory, indirect. indirectly
   See also /aɪ/.
3. directorial
   See also /aɪ/. (Although the Macmillan English Dictionary does not, in this one case, give two possible pronunciations - giving only the /aɪ/ variant - common usage does not observe this exception.)
4. indirectly
   The Macmillan English Dictionary does not have the /aɪ/ version, although it is common.

/aɪə/ Notes

1. campfire
   Escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because of its frequent collocation with "song". A "campfire song" is not necessarily sung in the presence of ("around" is the customary preposition) a campfire (or indeed any kind of fire).
2. desirous
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has no /ə/, a commonly heard variant.
3. dog-tired, hard-wired, live wire, quick-fire, sure-fire
   This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because it is entirely metaphorical.
4. entirety
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has no /ə/ (in the second syllable). although that is commonly heard. Students of ESOL should use this word with caution (if at all!): 'the entirety of' is usually (perhaps always) a grandiloquent way of saying'the whole',  'the whole of' or 'all'.
5. expiry, retiree, retirement, retiring
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has no /ə/ (in the second syllable).
6. firebrand
   This escapes the usual exclusion of compound words, for two reasons. The "brand" part scarcely exists as a freestanding word (with a concrete referent, that is), and the word as a whole is - more often than not - used to refer metaphorically to a sort of person.
7. grappling iron, iron, ironing, soldering iron
   Note that the "r" is not pronounced.
8. gridiron
   This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because of its metaphorical use (to refer to a field marked out for American football.)
9. haywire
   This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds, because it refers neither to hay nor to wire.
10. hot-wire
    This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds, because the wires involved are not hot .
11. wiretap
    This escapes the usual exclusion of compounds because the "tap" in question is metaphorical.
12. wiry
    The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has very little (if any) /ə/.

/aɪ/ Notes

1. direct, direction, directionless, directive, directly, director, directorate, directorship, directory, indirect
   See also /ɪ/.
2. directorial
   See also /aɪ/. (Although the Macmillan English Dictionary does not, in this one case, give two possible pronunciations - giving only the /aɪ/ variant - common usage does not observe this exception).
3. indirectly
   See also /ɪ/. The Macmillan English Dictionary does not have the /aɪ/ version (although it is not uncommon).

/ə/ Notes

1. admirable
   Note that the stress is on the first syllable.
2. circumference
   Students of ESOL should note that, unlike other words formed with the "circum-" prefix, stress is on the second syllable.
3. elixir
   The Macmillan English Dictionary gives this but /i:ə/ and /Iə/ are both common and acceptable.
4. giraffe
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample has a trace of /ɪ/ - a common and acceptable alternative.
5. miraculous
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample uses /ɪ/.
6. piranha
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, but the audio sample uses /ɪ/. Both are acceptable, and in some speech communities the /ɪ/ variant is the more common.
7. satiri[s|z]e, satirist
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, as does the audio sample, but /ɪ/ is also common.
8. tapir
   The Macmillan English Dictionary gives this pronunciation, as do most other online dictionaries, but a version with /Iə/ is common and acceptable (some might even think it preferable - as it avoids a pun with "taper".
9. triumvirate, virility
   The Macmillan English Dictionary transcription has this sound, as does the audio sample,, but a version with /ɪ/ is common.