Sounds Archives - Page 3 of 13

This large collection of videos is broken up into subcategories, which you can find under 'Videos' in the main menu. Study the vowel, diphthong, and consonant sounds of American English, as well as the International Phonetic Alphabet and letters.

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...]

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...]

Relaxing Around the R Sound

The R sound is one of the hardest sounds in American English. Practice these exercises to relax around the R and speak effortlessly. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6pXP91ldPo Video Text: In this … [Read more...]

Syllabic Consonants

A Syllabic Consonant is a consonant that replaces the vowel [ə] in a syllable. They make it possible to make some short syllables shorter and simpler. Learn about the four syllabic consonants and how to make them. YouTube blocked? Click here to see … [Read more...]

How to Pronounce GIRL

Learn how to pronounce a very challenging word: Girl! Learn how the make the R and the Dark L together. The SHAPE, or intonation, of the voice is very important. It will help you make these sounds naturally. YouTube blocked? Click here to see … [Read more...]

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...]

Tongue Flexibility and the N

Practice relaxing the tongue when saying words and phrases with N. Tom teaches you to train yourself to use the tongue and not the jaw when working with words and phrases with the N for more natural speech. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the … [Read more...]

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...]

How to Pronounce QUARTER

The word QUARTER can be tricky. Say it with confidence -- it can be used various ways in English conversation. This video shows how the AW as in LAW [ɔ] vowel is different when followed by the R [ɹ] consonant. YouTube blocked? Click here to see … [Read more...]

How to Pronounce WH Words — what, why, which

Have you noticed that there are two different ways to pronounce words that begin with 'wh'? I pronounce them one way, and my mother pronounces them another. Special thanks to Mom for helping with this video! YouTube blocked? Click here to see the … [Read more...]

Learn the IPA — Consonants

If you're not familiar with the IPA, this video will help you get used to the symbols we use to represent the consonant sounds of American English. YouTube blocked? Click here to see the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_qcAuHhJIc Video … [Read more...]

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...]