Vowels - which vowels do the, -er and -em fit in ?

PhMarne

Hi everyone!

I'm currently practicing on a song of my own, that deals with lovers and the summer

I know there are basic vowels : A (a), Æ (æ), (H)EY (e), E (i), O (o) and OO (u)

But I fail to make some endings fit into these fundamental vowels

Where would you classify the -er of Lovers and Summer ? I'd instinctively turn it into an A (a)

What with the -em in Them ? Is it an Æ (æ) ?

And of course : is the vowel in 'the' an AE (æ) ?

Thanks a lot!

Wigs

You would be fine with almost a pure ah for lover and summer depending on the rest of the lyrics and how high or powerfully you sing them. Those vowels are classical vowels but English has a few like you have discovered that are not pure. You can try split the difference between the vowels and come up with a sort of uh sound.

PhMarne

Thanks a lot @Wigs !
Hope you don't mind if I re-type the question using the classical writing for pure vowels, that is: a æ e i o u - for the sake of clarity.
I added them to the initial writing, so you don't have to re-write your answer
Thanks again!