It looks like a short “I” but it sounds like a long “E.” Hold the front part of the tongue high and spread the lips. The consonant that comes after this sound has a major effect on it. When /i/ is followed by a voiced consonant, the sound is much longer than when it is followed by a voiceless consonant.
To make an /i/ sound, keep your mouth mostly closed and raise your tongue with your tongue touching your teeth along both sides. /i/ is a long sound. Let’s look at some examples, first before a voiceless consonant: Pete priest cheap beef ether heap beast. Now, we’ll take a look at the same sound before a voiced consonant: green leaves steed being keen cheap league And in some sentences: Pete’s heap of green leaves is cheap. He’s keen to be a priest. If you’d like some practice, look below the video.