AMERICAN ENGLISH SPEECH

CONSONANT SOUNDS

Most of the 24 American English sounds occur in other languages, so there are
only a few sounds that most non-native speakers will actually need to learn to
make. Sometimes the problem is not because the speaker doesn’t know how to
make a particular sound but it is because the spelling is misleading. If you
learned to read English before you learned to speak it, for example, you might
pronounce the letter d in “education” as a D sound rather than a J sound.

Consonant sounds are described by 1) where (place) they are produced (both
lips, tongue tip on teeth, etc.) and 2) how (manner) they are produced (complete
stop, etc.) All consonant sounds can also be described as 3) voiced or unvoiced.
When air passes by the vocal folds and causes them to vibrate, sound is
produced. A consonant that is made this way is called a voiced sound and the
vibration can be felt by putting your fingers on the front of your throat. When
air passes by the vocal folds without vibrating them, the sound of exhaled air
gives the consonant sound an unvoiced quality. When you put your fingers on
the front of your throat, you won’t feel any vibration.

CONSONANT SOUNDS

B
CH
D
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N

NG
P
R
S
SH
T
“Flap T”
TH
THH
V
W
 X
Y
Z
ZH
SILENT CONSONANTS
VOICING
CH

The CH consonant sound can be difficult to pronounce for many non-native

speakers. Often it is confused with SH. You may be surprised to know that
there are many words spelled with T that are pronounced CH, such as
“situation” and “signature.”

Instructions to make this sound: Does your tongue press the roof of your mouth
inside your top teeth quickly and firmly? It may help to try to begin this sound
by putting your tongue in the same position you use for a T sound.

Common problems: Using an SH sound, so "chair" sounds like "share."

Common spellings: CH as in “chair,” TCH as in “watch,” T as in “nature,” C as

in “cello”

Misleading words: “chef,” “Chicago,” and “brochure” are pronounced with a

SH sound; “chorus,” “stomach,” and “echo” are pronounced with a K sound

chair a child's chair

chose chose a career
kitchen a kitchen cabinet
such such a charming girl
watch watch the tennis match

Chuck was chosen to be the research chairman.

Which teacher's signature is on the check?

The F consonant sound can be difficult for some non-native English speakers,
especially Filipinos and some Vietnamese. Most commonly it is confused with P.
The F sound is a steady flow of air, unlike the P.

Instructions to make this sound: Do your top teeth touch your bottom lip as the
air passes out of your mouth? Does your upper lip remain at rest?

Common problems: Using P, so "fine" sounds like "pine"

Common spellings: F as in “four,” PH as in “phone,” FF as in “staff,” GH as in

“rough”

find find it fast

few a few friends
caffeine without caffeine
if if I could
fifty fifty pennies

The conference offered five different sessions.

Will they finish the film before February first?

The French have difficulty pronouncing the American H sound. Also, some
European and Middle Eastern speakers pronounce it more strongly than native
Americans. It is simply exhaled air.

Instructions to make this sound: Do you hear the sound of air as it passes
smoothly through your mouth? You don't want to hear any contact or vibrating
sounds.

Common problems: Not pronouncing it at all.

Common spellings: H as in “had,” WH as in “who”

Misleading words: “honest,” “herbs” have a silent H

he is he here
hear can't hear him
has he has it
behavior on her best behavior
neighborhood a house in the neighborhood

I heard him say, "Home is where the heart is."

Headlines said the hijacker held one hundred hostages.

The J sound can be difficult for non-native English speakers. The many ways of
spelling it may confuse you. Did you know the letter D is sometimes
pronounced J, as in “educate,” “procedure,” and “soldier”?

Instructions to make this sound: Does your tongue press the roof of your mouth
firmly inside your top teeth?

Common Problems: Using a CH, so "jeep" sounds like "cheap." Using a ZH, so
"jet" sounds like "zhet." Using a Y, so "jet" sounds like "yet."

Common Spellings: J as in “jam,” G as in “gym,” DGE as in “ledge,” D as in

“educate.”

Misleading Words: “beige” is pronounced with a ZH sound

jeans cheap jeans

jacket a genuine leather jacket
wages wages and fringe benefits
badge a manager's badge
vegetable a vegetable garden

John suggested I register my new Jeep.

Is Jim eligible for that job in geology?

The L sound is very challenging for many non-native speakers (and some native
speakers, too!). Some people confuse it with R. It is especially difficult to
pronounce at the end of a word (“wall”) or at the end of a syllable (“ultra’) for
some speakers. They tend to round their lips and the L sounds like a W.

Instructions to make this sound: Does the front of your tongue touch the ridge
behind your upper front teeth? Be sure the corners of your lips do not pull in—it
may be helpful to pull them back as if you are smiling. Also, be careful your
lower lip does not move upward at all.

Common Problems: Using a W, so "late" sounds like "wait." Using an R, so "late"

sounds like "rate." Using a N, so "low" sounds like "no."

Common Spellings: L as in “lake,” LL as in “dollars”

Misleading Words: “walk,” “talk,” “salmon” have a silent L

line the telephone line

long a long while ago
eleven eleven o'clock
well well, I will call
girl the lovely girl

Let's elect a capable and responsible leader.

School children learn to dial 911 when in trouble.

L-BLENDS
L is a difficult sound for some people and it can become even harder to
pronounce when it is next to another consonant sound. When it is with another
consonant, it is called an “l-blend” because the two sounds blend together.

Common Problems: Using a W, so "plate" sounds like "pwait." Using an R, so

"glass" sounds like "grass."

Common Spellings: PL as in “please,” BL as in “black,” CL as in “climb,” GL as

in “glass,” SL as in “slip”

play let’s play bridge

class an English class
fly fly like an eagle
help help yourself
salt salt and pepper
told told an old joke

Black clouds gave way to pleasant blue skies.

Most people don’t find N too difficult to pronounce. Sometimes it gets mixed up
with L, though. Touch your nose when you make this sound. You should feel
some vibration. Other times, it gets mixed up with NG. N is made with the
tongue tip raised in the front of the mouth; NG is made with the tongue back
raised in the back of the mouth but both of these sounds are nasal so you will feel
vibration when you touch your nose while making these sounds.

Instructions to make this sound: Does the front of your tongue press flatly and
strongly against the roof of your mouth behind your upper front teeth? This is
a nasal sound.

Common Problems: Using an L, so "night" sounds like "light." Using a NG, so

"thing" sounds like "thin."

Common Spellings: N as in neat, NN as in “funny,” KN as in “knife,” GN as in

“gnaw,” PN “pneumonia”

Misleading Words: “column” and “hymn” have a silent N

name a new name

never now or never
business business know-how
then then and now
hundred more than a hundred
Non-native speakers omit many final sounds
I wonder when they can answer that one question.

NG

NG occurs only at the ends of words or at the end of a syllable within a word. If
it is mispronounced, it is 1) because an N is substituted so make sure the back of
your tongue is raised, not the front of your tongue, or 2) because a G is added at
the very end and there is no G sound in the NG sound.

(Most Americans don’t know how to pronounce this sound at the beginning of a
word, but if you want to be able to pronounce Vietnamese names like Nguyen
and Ngo correctly, just practice making this sound and you can learn to say these
names quite well.)

Instructions to make this sound: Are you raising the back of your tongue to touch
the roof of your mouth? You shouldn’t hear a G sound at the end.

Common Problems: Using an N, so "thing" sounds like "thin.” Adding a K or G

at the end, so “thing” sounds like “thingK” or “thingG.”

Common Spellings: NG as in “sing,” N as in “bank”

thing didn’t win a thing

during during the spring
long a long, long string
bringing bringing something

He sang the wrong song while recording.

She had trouble finding her missing wedding ring.

The P sound is not usually too difficult a sound to make. Both lips need to come
together. It’s just air, no sound, so you should not feel any vibration when you
put your hand on your throat.

Instructions to make this sound: Do your lips press together and release the air
with a pop?

Common Problems: Using a B, so "push" sounds like "bush."

Common Spellings: P as in “play,” PP as in “happy”

Misleading Words: “pneumonia,” “psychology,” “receipt” have a silent P

 pay please pay the bills
parking no parking permit
opinion popular opinion
company company policy
purpose a special purpose

I hope the paper was proofed prior to publication.

Those people are Filipinos from the South Pacific.

The R sound is very challenging for many non-native speakers (and some native
speakers, too!).

Instructions to make this sound: Is your tongue raised high in the center of your
mouth? Or is your tongue tip curled back to the center of your mouth, not
touching the roof. There is no vibrating motion of the tongue-just a smooth
movement.

Common Problems: Using an L, so "rate" sounds like "late."

Common Spellings: R as in “ring,” RR as in “worry,” RH as in “rhyme,” WR as in

“wreck,” L as in “colonel”

read read the paper

rent raise the rent
very it’s very realistic
arrive arrive early Friday
they’re they’re near here
our it’s our turn
farther move farther forward

Can you determine the square root of forty-four?

Ron’s voice was hoarse and his throat was sore.

R-BLENDS

R is a difficult sound for many people and it can become even harder to
pronounce when it is next to another consonant sound. When it is with another
consonant, it is called an “r-blend” because the two sounds blend together.

Common Problems: Using an L, so "present" sounds like "pleasant." Not

pronouncing the R so “present” sounds like “peasant” and “girl” sounds like
“gull”

Common Spellings: PR as in “practice,” BR as in “bring,” CR as in “crime,” GR

as in “grass,” TR as in “try”
 present a birthday present
fresh fresh fruit
crowd three’s a crowd
hard a hard surface
warm some warm weather
work work long hours

Three racecar drivers survived the wreck.

Turn right at the corner of Warner and First Street.

S isn’t a difficult sound to learn for most non-native speakers. It’s just air, no
sound, so you should not feel any vibration when you put your hand on your
throat.

Instructions to make this sound: Is the tip of your tongue almost touching the
back of your upper front teeth as the air passes over it?

Common Problems: Using a Z so “sue” sounds like “zoo.” Using an SH so “sue”

sounds like “shoe.”

Common Spellings: S as in “say,” SS as in “pass,” C as in “circle,” SC as in

“science,” PS as in “psychology”

Misleading Words: “is,” “ways,” “reason” are pronounced with

a Z sound; “debris” has a silent S

sale it’s on sale

sell sell at a loss
beside beside myself
campus a university campus
yesterday yesterday was Sunday

The message said we must seek safety soon.

Los Angeles, Dallas, and St. Louis are big cities.

S-BLENDS

When S is with another consonant, it is called an “s-blend” because the two

sounds blend together. Hispanics and Iranians are accustomed to adding a
vowel sound before the S. Remember to start with S, not a vowel sound.

Common Problems: Using a vowel sound before the S, so “state” sounds like
“estate.”

still still strong

stop stop and start
sports sports scores
slowly speak slowly
street a parking space on the street

They acted as a school sponsor.

These students are on scholarships.

SH

SH is the “be quiet” sound—it’s the sound some people use to tell a child to be
quiet. The corners of your lips come in. You should not have them pulled back
as if you are smiling.

Instructions to make this sound: Are your lips rounded as your tongue points
toward your front teeth? If you put your finger in front of your lips to tell
someone to be quiet, this is the sound you make.

Common Problems: Using an S, so “she” sounds like “see.” Using a CH so

“shop” sound like “chop.”

Common Spellings: SH as in “short,” SS as in “tissue,” TI as in “nation,” SU as in

“sure,” CI as in “racial,” CH as in “chef,” SCI as in “conscious.”

Misleading Words: “question” and “suggestion” are pronounced with a CH

sound; “equation” is pronounced with a ZH sound

sheet a second sheet of paper

sugar show me the sugar
information share your information
finish finish the championship
rush rush to go fishing

She washed and polished her Chevrolet.

Shall we assume the commission negotiated efficiently?

Spoken American English differs from British English in several ways. One
difference is that sometimes the letter T (or letters TT) in the middle of a word
aren’t pronounced like a T. This sound is called a “flap T” because the tip of the
tongue just taps the ridge behind the upper front teeth. It sounds more relaxed
than a T—more like a D. So, here in the United States, a “party” often sounds
like a “pardy” and “citizen” might sound like “cidizen.”

Instructions to make this sound: Your tongue quickly taps the ridge behind your
upper front teeth. It sounds more like a D than a T. It usually occurs after a
vowel, F, R, N and before another vowel when the following syllable is not
stressed.
Common Problems: Using a T sound instead of a flap T.

later later at the meeting

little little about marketing
letter writing a letter
water the waiter brought water
quarter quarter inch in diameter
ninety eighty or ninety percent

We’re invited to a party on Saturday.

You’ll find some butter and lettuce in the refrigerator.

TH

The TH sound is often the hardest consonant for many non-native English
speakers to learn. They may say a T, F, or S instead. The TH occurs in English
and Castilian Spanish, but can you think of other languages with this sound?

It's an important sound--it is the difference between "three" and "tree," "death"
and "debt," "with” and “whiff," "thumb" and "some."

Practice putting your tongue very lightly against the back of your top front teeth
and blowing. The air should flow freely.

Instructions to make this sound: Does the air flow over your tongue? You
should be able to prolong it for 2 seconds. Your tongue can be between your
upper and lower front teeth but should not stick out beyond your teeth or your
tongue can be behind your top teeth.

Common Problems: Using a T, so "thin" sounds like "tin."

Using an F, so "thin" sounds like "fin." Using an S, so "thin" sounds like "sin."

Common Spellings: TH as in “three”

Misleading Words: “Thailand,” “Thomas,” “thyme” are pronounced with a T,

not a TH; “clothes” and “asthma” have a silent TH

theme the third theme

thick through the thick wall
something something for nothing
with with them
south north or south
month on the thirtieth of the month

Thank you both for thinking of me on my birthday.

I thought the theater was open Thursday, the ninth.

THH

THH is an especially troublesome sound for most non-native speakers because it

does not occur in most other languages. Practice putting your tongue very
lightly against the back of your top front teeth and blowing. The air should flow
freely. Put your hand on the front of your throat and feel the vibration.

Instructions to make this sound: Is your tongue between your upper and lower
front teeth but not protruding too far? Does the air flow over your tongue?

Common Problems: Using a D so “they” sounds like “day.”

Using a Z so “then” sounds like “Zen.”

Common Spellings: TH as in “that,” THE as in “breathe”

Misleading Words: “clothes” has a silent TH

these these brothers

there here or there
those those others
either either one
weather rainy weather
smooth a smooth cloth

They gathered together in southern California.

Their father went further away than their brother.

The keys to a good V sound are: 1) do not let your lips come together or it may
sound like a B sound and 2) do not let the corners of your mouth come in or you
may make a W sound. It may help to smile while you are practicing V.

Instructions to make this sound: Are your top teeth touching your bottom lip as
the air passes out of your mouth? Your lips should not be rounded.

Common Problems: Using a B so “very” sounds like “berry.” Using a W so

“vine” sounds like “wine.” Using an F so “view” sounds like “few.”

Common Spellings: V as in “veto,” F as in “of”

visa request a visa

value of no value
vote better vote in November
available what’s available
give to give or receive
favorite my favorite flavor

Vincent gave Kevin a very good evaluation.

We’ve been invited to five parties that evening.

For many people, W gets mixed up with V. Remember to keep your lips pushed
out away from your front teeth and make sure the corners of your lips come in to
make a circle.

Instructions to make this sound: Are your lips pushed forward, away from your
teeth, and rounded?

Common Problems: Using a V so “wine” sounds like “vine.”

Common Spellings: O as in “one,” W as in “want,” WH as in “where,” U as in

“quit”

Misleading Words: “two,” “write,” “sword,” “answer” have a silent W

we we won
went went somewhere
why why wait
between between 12 and 1 o’clock
equipment with our equipment

The weather was warm when I went to Milwaukee.

It requires a quarter which equals twenty-five cents

X can also be considered not one, but two sounds. It can be K + S as in “box” or
G + Z as in “exhibit.”

Instructions to make this sound: You should hear two distinct sounds. In some
words, they are the K and S sounds and in other words, they are the G and Z
sounds.

Common Problems: Not pronouncing the first sound: K or G, so “six” sounds

like “sis” or “exist” sounds like “izist.” Not pronouncing the second sound: S or
Z, so “six” sounds like “sick” or

Common Spellings: X as in “mix,” KS as in “walks,” CC as in “accept”

Misleading Words: “luxury,” “sexual” are pronounced with K and SH or G and
ZH.

fix fix it next week

economics explaining economics
checks wrote six checks
sixteen sixteen or sixty
example an expert’s example
exactly exactly according to specs

Next week’s exam will include x-rays.

The executive needs an exact copy of the exhibit.

Y is a nice easy sound—there’s no contact between your tongue tip and the roof
of your mouth. If you touch the roof of your mouth, you may make a J sound.

Instructions to make this sound: Does your tongue start flat and high in your
mouth, moving downward as you lower your jaw? Be sure your tongue tip stays
down and does not touch the roof of your mouth.

Common Problems: Using a J sound so “yellow” sounds like “jello.” Not

pronouncing the Y sound so “year” sounds like “ear.”

Common Spellings: U as in “United States,” Y as in “young,” I as in “senior”

year continue next year

yesterday curious about yesterday
yes yes, a few
yard beyond the yard
United States popular in the United States

The mayor of New York visits Yosemite annually.

Do unions usually negotiate regularly?

If you have trouble with the Z sound it is because you are using S instead. The
difference between them is that you should feel vibration for Z when you put
your hand on your throat. It is especially difficult for Hispanics.

Instructions to make this sound: Is the tip of your tongue almost touching the
back of your upper front teeth as the air passes over it?

Common Problems: Using an S sound so “zip” sounds like “sip.” Using a J

sound so “zone” sounds like “Joan.” Adding a D sound before the Z so “zoo”
sounds like “dzoo.”

Common Spellings: Z as in “zoology,” S as in “is,” ZZ as in “fuzzy,” X as in

“Xerox”

zero close to zero

zipper zip the zipper
zone zone or zip code
easy isn’t it easy
his keys to his house
does does it or doesn’t it

He has recognized the Japanese businessman.

Haze causes decreased visibility, doesn’t it?

ZH

If you have trouble with the ZH, here is some good news. It occurs in spoken
English less than any other consonant sound! Make the “be quiet sound”: SH
and then put your hand on the front of your throat and make some sound so you
feel the vibration.

Instructions to make this sound: Are your lips rounded as your tongue points
toward your front teeth?

Common Problems: Using an SH sound so “usual” sounds like “ushual.” Using

a J sound so “version” sounds like “virgin.”

Common Spellings: S as in “measure,” G as in “regime,” Z as in “seizure”

Asia she’s from Asia

vision has unusual vision
measure measure the potential
usually usually pleasurable
prestige a position of prestige

Our decision is to make the occasion casual.

They watch television for pleasure and diversion.

SILENT CONSONANTS

Because many non-native speakers often learn to read English before they hear it
spoken, they sometimes pronounce letters that native speakers know are not
pronounced—“silent.” What letters are silent in these sentences?

See you on Wednesday.

The honors ceremony lasted an hour.
Shall we walk and talk?
Really, I would if I could.
I love the Hawaiian Islands!
We ate gourmet food at the buffet.
Write two answers.

VOICING

Many pairs of consonant sounds in American English are made in the same place
in the mouth and in the same manner. They are different in only one way—one
sound is voiced and one sound is not voiced. In these pairs of words, there is
only one difference. The first word of each pair has a sound (in parentheses) that
not voiced so you won’t feel any vibration when you put your fingers on the
front of your throat while making this sound. The second word of each pair has a
sound that is voiced (in parentheses) so you will feel vibration when you put
your fingers on the front of your throat while making this sound. Remember,
this is the only difference between these two words.

pack (P) back (B)

trite (T) tried (D)
chunk (CH) junk (J)
piece (S) peas (Z)
few (F) view (V)

VOWEL SOUNDS
Vowel sounds are often difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce. One explanation
is that there are five vowel letters in English (A, E, I, O, U) but fifteen vowel sounds and
there may be no clear relationship between the printed letter and its sound. Some vowels
have as many as 10 different spellings! Think about these words: "cough, bough, dough,
rough, through"--the same "ough" spelling, but five different pronunciations!

Vowel sounds are made by slight changes in the position of the tongue and lips and
tensing or relaxing the muscles of the mouth. One important characteristic of American
English vowels is the "open" quality that is the result of the position of the tongue. You
may be working on tongue position and movement in order to improve your accent. By
prolonging or lengthening some vowel sounds, many words will sound more American.
Perhaps the single most important factor in modifying vowel sounds is the ability to hear
the sounds correctly.

Vowels are generally more difficult to master than consonants. In addition to the
problems created by spelling that are explained in the first paragraph, vowel sounds are
made by slightly changing the size, shape, and tension of the muscles of your mouth and
lips. A very small change can result in an entirely different sound.

Vowel sounds can be described as high, mid, or low. When the tongue or jaw moves up,
it is a high vowel; when the tongue or jaw moves down, it is a low vowel. When the
tongue stays in the middle, it is a middle vowel. Vowels may also be described as front,
central, or back. When the tongue is raised or arched in the front of the mouth, it is a
front vowel; when the tongue is raised or arched in the center, it is a central vowel; when
the tongue is raised or arched in the back, it is a back vowel.

Vowel Sounds

EE U UR
I OO AI
AY UH O OW
EH OY
AE A