The two vowels rule states that when any two vowels are together, the first one says its long sound and the second is silent. Since the letter E and the letter A are two vowel letters, EA are pronounced as the long E sound but that is not always the case.

1. Select the Rules tab.
2. Choose ...EA... as below.
3. Click >> button as below until you see the similar words.
4. Go through the words in the list box.
5. You will see that the letter E is in red and the letter A is in gray color, meaning that the letter A is silent and only the letter E is pronounced as the letter E itself.
6. Now if you learn a new word such as leash, you shall apply the EA rule to help you remember that the word leash is pronounced as L-E-SH.

There are exceptions. If EA is followed by the letter R, you need to pronounced EAR together as the IR sound in fear, the UR sound in early, or the ER sound in bear. You can click on the >> to list the following word. Practice those words to help you remember the pronunciation of those words.

If EA is followed by the letter D, sometimes EA is pronounced as the long E sound as lead, plead, etc and sometimes the short E sound as head, dead, bread, etc.

If EA is followed by TH, sometimes the EA is pronounced as the long E sound as in wreath and sometimes as the short E sound as in breath.

If EA is followed by the letter V, sometimes the EA is pronounced as the long E sound as in leave and sometimes pronounced as the short E sound as heavy.

If EA is followed by LTH, the EA is pronounced as the short E sound as health, healthy, and wealth.

They are other exception words like idea, create, and heart which you have to remember their pronunciation.

English pronunciation sometimes can be very irregular. In those cases, you have to memorize them instead of relying on rules. For example, the EA in break, steak and great is pronounced as the long A sound.