Decoding exercises: "ei"


 * I before E except after C

This rule of thumb is not always true. It should be understood as "I before E except after C if the vowel-sound rhymes with bee". This article explores the "cei" part (and exceptions). For the "ie" part see Decoding exercises: "ie".


 * /iː/, after C: ceiling, conceive, deceit, deceive, perceive, receipt, receive
 * other: caffeine, leisure, protein, seizure


 * /eɪ/: beige, eight, feign, freight, heinous, neighbor, neighbour, reign, sleigh, surveillance, vein, weigh, weight


 * //: heifer, Leicester /ˈlstər/, leisure


 * /iː/ or /aɪ/: either, neither


 * /aɪ/: height, heighten, kaleidoscope, meiosis, seismic


 * /ɪ/: counterfeit, sovereign /ˈsɒvrɪn /


 * /ə/ or /ɪ/: foreign, foreigner


 * Two different syllables
 * /iːɪ/: being, reimburse, reinforce
 * /iːɪ/ or /ɪɪ/: atheist, reiteration
 * /eɪə/ or /iːə/: deity, spontaneity


 * eir
 * /eə/: heir /eər/, their


 * /ɪə/: weird