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This website was created to help people improve their American English pronunciation. At the core is a series of videos explaining in detail how each sound is created, as well as a blog.
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Though I highly recommend learning via video :), sometimes a book is a nice resource to have. I especially like this one:
Sound Chart
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This chart is a work in progress. If you know of a sound that is not represented here, please feel free to email me at feedback@rachelsenglish.com and I would be very happy to add it.
The Many Ways a Letter Can Be Pronounced in American English, Alone and in Groupings
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| LETTER | GROUPINGS, SOUND AND EXAMPLE |
| A |
a ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [ ] ... exacta ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [  ] ... fathera ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [  ] ... abouta ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [  ] ... base, ablea ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [  ] ... sharea ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [  ] ... pirvateaa ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] ... bazaar, aardvarkai ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... saidai ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [  ] ... aisleai ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... maidai ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [ ] ... plaidau ...'aw' as in 'law' ... [  ] ... causeau ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... gaugeau ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [ ] ... auntau ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [  ] ... chauffeuray ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... saysay ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... payaugh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... daughteraw ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... shawlea ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [  ] ... heatea ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... oceanea ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... headea ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] ... heartea ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... greateau ... 'ew' as in 'few' ... [  ] ... beautyeau ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... beauea[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [  ] ... learnoa ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... oat |
| B |
silent ...thumb b ... 'b' as in 'bit' ... [  ] ...bone |
| C |
c ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ |
| D |
d ... 'd' as in 'dime' ... [ |
| E |
e ... silent ... there |
| F |
f ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... fearf ... 'v' as in 'van' ... [  ] ... off ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... off |
| G |
silent ... sign augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... daughterdge ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [  ] ... judgeeig ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... foreign (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [])eig ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... reigneigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... weigheigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... heightigh ...'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... sighg ... 'g' as in 'gap' ... [  ] ... gog ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [ ] ... gemge ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [  ] ... beigegg ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [ ] ... exaggerateng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [  ] ... ringng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] with 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... angstng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] with 'g' as in 'gap' ... [] ... angerough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... thoughough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... thoughtough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [  ] ... throughough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [  ] ... boughough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... coughough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [  ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... enough |
| H |
silent ... honor, thyme, rhythm augh ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... daughterch ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... choirch ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [  ] ... chancech ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [  ] ... chartreusechs ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... fuchsiah ... 'h' as in 'hi' ... [  ] ... happyigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... sigheigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... weigheigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... heightough ... 'oh' as in 'no' ... [ ] ... thoughough ... 'aw' as in 'law' ... [ ] ... thoughtough ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... throughough ... 'ow' as in 'now' ... [ ] ... boughough ... 'ah' as in 'father' ... [ ] OR 'aw' as in 'law' ... [] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... coughough ... 'uh' as in 'butter' ... [ ] with 'f' as in 'fan' ... [] ... enoughph ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... phonepph ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... sapphiresch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... schmucksh ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... shametch ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... watchth ... 'th' as in 'thin' ... [  ] ... thanksth ... 'th' as in 'this' ... [  ] ... those |
| I |
ai ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... said ai ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... aisleai ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... maidai ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [ ] ... plaidci ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... ancientci ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... specialei ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... receiveei ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... veileig ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... foreign (can also be reduced 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [])eig ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... reigneigh ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... weigheigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... heighti ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ] ... himi ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... timei ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... policei ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... possiblei ... 'aa' as in 'bat' ... [ ] ... timbrei ... 'y' as in 'yes' ... [  ] ... seniorie ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ ] ... friendie ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... grieveie ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... lieigh ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... sighi[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... birdoi ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [  ] ... moistoi ... 'w' as in 'will' ... [  ] with 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [] ... choirui ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [ ] ... buildui ... 'oo' as in 'boo' ... [ ] ... juicesci ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... consciencesi ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [ ] ... visionti ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... motionti ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... mention |
| J |
dj ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [] ... adjective j ... 'j' as in 'jar' ... [  ] ... joyj ... 'y' as in 'yes' ... [ ] ... fjordj ... 'h' as in 'hi' ... [ ] ... junta |
| K |
silent ... know ck ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... backk ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [ ] ... king |
| L |
silent ... palm l ... 'l' as in 'lap' ... [  ] ... lovell ... 'l' as in 'lap' ... [ ] ... million |
| M |
m ... 'm' as in 'map' ... [ ] ... minemm ... 'm' as in 'map' ... [ ] ... summer |
| N |
silent ... autumn n ... 'n' as in 'nap' ... [  ] ... namen ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] ... thinknn ... 'n' as in 'nap' ... [ ] ... funnyng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] ... ringng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] with 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... angstng ... 'ng' as in 'sing' ... [ ] with 'g' as in 'gap' ... [] ... anger |
| O |
eo ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [ |
| P |
silent ... psychology, pneumonia p ... 'p' as in 'pit' ... [  ] ... pearph ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... phonepph ... 'f' as in 'fan' ... [ ] ... sapphire |
| Q |
q ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] ... quiet |
| R |
r ... 'r' as in 'run' ... [ ] ... rat |
| S |
silent ... island chs ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... fuchsias ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [  ] ... somes ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [  ] ... hiss ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ]... sugars ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [ ] ... measuresc ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... sciencesch ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... schmucksci ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... consciencesi ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [ ] ... visionsh ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... shamess ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ]... issuess ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ...missss ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [ ] ... possession |
| T |
silent ... fasten t ... 't' as in 'time' ... [  ] ... tapt ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... future, righteoustch ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... watchth ... 'th' as in 'thin' ... [ ] ... thanksth ... 'th' as in 'this' ... [ ] ... thoseti ... 'sh' as in 'ship' ... [ ] ... motionti ... 'ch' as in 'char' ... [ ] ... mention |
| U |
silent ... plague (it signals a hard G without being pronounced) |
| V |
v ... 'v' as in 'van' ... [] ... voice |
| W |
silent ... answer, write |
| X |
x ... 'k' as in 'cap' ... [] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... ax, expert x ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [ ] ... xylophonex ... 'g' as in 'gap' ... [ ] with 'z' as in 'zip' ... [] ... exhibit |
| Y |
ay ... 'eh' as in 'bed' ... [] ... says ay ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... payey ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... keyey ... 'ay' as in 'say' ... [ ] ... theyoy ... 'oy' as in 'toy' ... [ ] ... joyuy ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... buy y ... 'ih' as in 'sit' ... [] ... symboly ... 'uh' as in 'supply' ... [ ] ... syringey ... 'y' as in 'yes' ... [ ] ... youy ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... rhyme, myy ... 'ee' as in 'she' ... [ ] ... melodyye ... 'ai' as in 'buy' ... [ ] ... byey[r] ... 'ur' as in 'her' ... [ ] ... myrtle |
| Z |
cz ... 't' as in 'time' ... [ ] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [] ... czar (one of two possible pronunciations)z ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [ ] ... lazyz ... 'dj' as in 'measure' ... [ ] ... azurez ... 't' as in 'time' ... [ ] with 's' as in 'sip' ... [] .. Naziz ... 's' as in 'sip' ... [ ] ... ritzzz ... 'z' as in 'zip' ... [ ] ... buzz |
] ... dark
] ... wolfBookmark/Search this post with
Hey Guys, I'm REALLY EXCITED about a way to get you more feedback on your accents. The videos are great, but they're also passive, and to speak better English you have to speak!!
I really hope some of you will take advantage of a new kind of exercise I'm trying out where you actually GET FEEDBACK FROM ME! Check out the details, record yourself, and send it in!
If you cannot view the videos, click here.
Check out this site ...
... I think it is a GREAT resource for studying pronunciation. You can slow down videos without the pitch changing, you can loop sections, you can look up words. It's an amazing resource, and I've enjoyed playing around with it.
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