In which one of the following words does the letter 'i' have a different sound (underlined)?

Question

Accepted Answer

The task is to identify the word in which the letter 'i' has a different sound compared to the other options. The correct answer is Option 2: "final." Let's explore why this is the case and why the other options are incorrect.

1. **Option 2: final**
   - In the word "final," the letter 'i' is pronounced as a long vowel sound /aɪ/, similar to the sound in "eye" or "high." This pronunciation is distinct from the other options, where 'i' is pronounced as a short vowel sound.

2. **Option 1: finish**
   - In "finish," the letter 'i' is pronounced as a short vowel sound /ɪ/, similar to the sound in "sit" or "hit." This is a common short 'i' sound in English.

3. **Option 3: fit**
   - In "fit," the letter 'i' is also pronounced as a short vowel sound /ɪ/, identical to the sound in "finish." This reinforces the short 'i' sound.

4. **Option 4: film**
   - In "film," the letter 'i' is pronounced as a short vowel sound /ɪ/, similar to the sound in "finish" and "fit." Again, this is the short 'i' sound.

In summary, the word "final" (Option 2) is the only one where the letter 'i' is pronounced with a long vowel sound /aɪ/, making it different from the short vowel sound /ɪ/ found in the other options. This distinct pronunciation justifies why Option 2 is the correct answer.