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You are here: Home / Archives for Comparison

In this set of videos, we compare similar words or sounds.

How to Pronounce POOL vs. PULL

Learn how to pronounce POOL and PULL:  it comes down to the English VOWEL sounds.  Feel comfortable using these words in English Conversation. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the video. https://youtu.be/ukKuV4fXdTA Video Text: In this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: OO [u] as in BOO, UH [ʊ] as in BOOK, Videos Tagged With: Comparison

YEAR vs. EAR (vs. HEAR)

Can you hear the difference between YEAR and EAR?  The Y Consonant can be hard to detect.  Learn how to say these two words differently and improve your American English pronunciation. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Specific Words, Videos, Y [j] as in YES Tagged With: Comparison

Dark L vs. OH: email vs. emai-oh

Don't mispronounce words that end in the Dark L -- many non-native speakers incorrectly make an 'oh' ending.  Learn how to make the Dark L and the dark sound instead of the OH. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: L [l] as in LAP, OH [oʊ] as in NO, Videos Tagged With: Comparison, Dark L

WANT vs. WON’T

These two words are not pronounced the same:  the lips must round for the second half of the OH diphthong in the word WON'T. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the video. https://youtu.be/Z8zVS8S7s28 Video Text: In this American English … [Read more...]

Filed Under: OH [oʊ] as in NO, Specific Words, Videos Tagged With: Comparison, N'T Contractions

Ending Voiced vs. Unvoiced Consonants

Have you ever noticed how the ending Z sound in words like 'flowers' [flaˈʊ əɹz] sounds more like an S? Learn how to lighten certain endings to pronounce them easily and naturally. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basics, Consonants, Videos Tagged With: Comparison

How to Pronounce MAN vs. MEN

Learn how to hear the difference between MAN and MEN, and pronounce the two words correctly.  MEN has a pure EH [ɛ] vowel, but MAN can be especially tricky! YouTube blocked? Click here to see the video. https://youtu.be/AkRg0-trHtc Video … [Read more...]

Filed Under: AA [æ] as in BAT, EH [ɛ] as in BED, Videos Tagged With: Comparison

Yellow vs. Jello

Some non-native speakers, especially Spanish speakers, mix up the Y and J sounds in English pronunciation, so that 'yes' sounds like 'jess'. Learn how to pronounce these two consonants clearly and correctly. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: J [dʒ] as in JAR, Videos, Y [j] as in YES Tagged With: Comparison

S [s] vs. SH [ʃ]

For some people, S and SH sound the same.  The position for these two sounds is quite different -- learn the difference in tongue and lip position, and practice with minimal pairs. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: S [s] as in SIP, SH [ʃ] as in SHIP, Videos Tagged With: Comparison

SEX vs. SIX

SEX and SIX are only different by one sound -- the middle vowel sound.  This can be hard for people to tell apart. Study the different sound and mouth position of these two word and get a clear understanding of how they are different. You never need … [Read more...]

Filed Under: EH [ɛ] as in BED, IH [ɪ] as in SIT, Specific Words, Videos Tagged With: Comparison

How to Say BEACH vs. BITCH and SHEET vs. SHIT

These word pairs can be tricky ... and embarrassing.  Say the right word by mastering the difference in vowel sounds in these pairs. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVJ-kEAx7Pw Video Text: In this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: EE [i] as in SHE, IH [ɪ] as in SIT, Specific Words, Videos Tagged With: Comparison, Cuss Words

How to Say STAFF vs. STUFF

These two words can be hard to tell apart if you're not solid on the vowels.  Study the different vowel sounds in this pair so you'll be able to tell the two words, and other words like them, apart. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: AA [æ] as in BAT, Specific Words, UH [ʌ] as in BUTTER, Videos Tagged With: Comparison

How to Say WIN vs WHEN

These two words can be hard to tell apart if you're not certain of the vowel sounds.  Learn the difference between the vowel sounds in this minimal pair, so you can be sure you're using the right word in English conversation. YouTube blocked? Click … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Specific Words, Videos Tagged With: Comparison

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