How to Pronounce EARTH

Learn how to pronounce the word EARTH and the idioms ‘down to earth’, ‘salt of the earth’, and ‘earth to Rachel’.

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Video Transcript:

In this American English pronunciation video, we’re going to go over how to pronounce a very tricky word: Earth. What on earth? That word is hard. We’ll also go over some idioms with this word.

This video is sponsored by Lingoda online language school. Lingoda offers live English lessons with native speakers on your own schedule. More information at the end of the video.

The word ‘earth’. Five letters, three IPA symbols, but only two sounds. In American English, the UR vowel is always the same as the R consonant. The R symbol always follows this vowel, and we just make one sound. UR. So we have the R vowel/consonant, which can be tricky, and the TH consonant, which can also be tricky.

Let’s go over how to pronounce this word. To make the R vowel/consonant, the tongue pulls back and up from the middle. So the sides of the middle of the tongue can touch the sides of the roof of the mouth.   Urr. The tongue tip isn’t touching anything. It looks like this. The lips flare out some, ur. And notice that the jaw doesn’t drop much. Many drop the jaw too much, and that messes up the vowel. Ar. No. Just ‘ur’. Earth. It might help you to think of this word starting with R and no vowel at all. RRRth, earth. To transition into the TH, relax the lips and bring the tongue tip forward so just the tip comes through the teeth. Earth. The tongue has to be really relaxed so the air doesn’t get stuck. It should flow freely, th. Earth.

Let’s look at this word up close and in slow motion.

The lips flare and you can see the inside of the mouth is dark. This is because the tongue is pulled back. You can see some of the tongue that is hanging down. Now, for the transition, the tongue moves forward, and the tip comes through the teeth. Watch again.

Earth.

Now you try it, slowly. Earth. Earth. Just two positions. Earth.

Ok, now a few idioms with ‘earth’. We have the phrase ‘down to earth’. This is used to describe someone who is very real. Not arrogant. For example, Even though LaBron James is incredibly famous, he still seems kind of down-to-earth. Down to earth. Do you notice that I’m reducing ‘to’? I’m making it more like a light D sound and a schwa. Down to, down to. You try it. Down to. Down to earth.

The phrase ‘salt of the earth’. This is used to describe someone who is just good. Kind to others. Maybe has a simple lifestyle. For example, Mother Theresa was focused on helping others. She was very salt-of-the-earth.

The phrase “to move heaven and earth” means you would do anything to get the result you want. I would move heaven and earth to get you that job. I would move heaven and earth to get tickets to that opera. It’s my dream to see that opera!

And finally: earth to Rachel! You can say this to someone when they have spaced out, when they’re not paying any attention.

>> Earth to Rachel!
>> Yes, thank you. Back to the video.

I hope this video has made this tricky word a little easier. Remember, it’s just two sounds. Practice the word many times and you’ll get it! Let’s watch a few more times. Speak out loud with the video.

Earth. [3x]

What words or phrases are difficult for you? Please put them in the comments below, and don’t forget to search my videos, I made have already made your video.

If you’re new to Rachel’s English, welcome. I have over 500 videos to help you speak better American English on my YouTube channel. Click here to visit my channel and subscribe. Or, see this playlist to get started with my videos. The link is also in the description below.

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That’s it, and thanks so much for using Rachel’s English.

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