🔊 English Pronunciation
In this section you will learn some of the most important sounds and pronunciation patterns in English. Listen to each example, then try saying it aloud yourself. Each example word includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.
🟢 English Vowel Sounds
🔤 Short A
a short vowel sound, like the “a” in cat A short vowel sound heard in words like cat, hat, and map.
Example: Cat
a small animal that people keep at home
🇫🇷 French: Chat
🇩🇪 German: Katze
🇮🇹 Italian: Gatto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gato
a short vowel sound, like the “a” in cat A short vowel sound heard in words like cat, hat, and map.
Example: Cat
a small animal that people keep at home
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gato🇫🇷 French: Chat
🇩🇪 German: Katze
🇮🇹 Italian: Gatto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gato
🔤 Long A
a long vowel sound, like the “a” in cake A long vowel sound heard in words like cake, rain, and day.
Example: Cake
a sweet food made from flour, sugar, and eggs
🇫🇷 French: Gâteau
🇩🇪 German: Kuchen
🇮🇹 Italian: Torta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bolo
a long vowel sound, like the “a” in cake A long vowel sound heard in words like cake, rain, and day.
Example: Cake
a sweet food made from flour, sugar, and eggs
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pastel🇫🇷 French: Gâteau
🇩🇪 German: Kuchen
🇮🇹 Italian: Torta
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Bolo
🔤 Short E
a short vowel sound, like the “e” in bed A short vowel sound heard in words like bed, pen, and ten.
Example: Bed
the place where you sleep
🇫🇷 French: Lit
🇩🇪 German: Bett
🇮🇹 Italian: Letto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cama
a short vowel sound, like the “e” in bed A short vowel sound heard in words like bed, pen, and ten.
Example: Bed
the place where you sleep
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Cama🇫🇷 French: Lit
🇩🇪 German: Bett
🇮🇹 Italian: Letto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cama
🔤 Long E
a long vowel sound, like the “ee” in see A long vowel sound heard in words like see, tree, and green.
Example: See
to look at something with your eyes
🇫🇷 French: Voir
🇩🇪 German: Sehen
🇮🇹 Italian: Vedere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ver
a long vowel sound, like the “ee” in see A long vowel sound heard in words like see, tree, and green.
Example: See
to look at something with your eyes
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ver🇫🇷 French: Voir
🇩🇪 German: Sehen
🇮🇹 Italian: Vedere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ver
🔤 Short I
a short vowel sound, like the “i” in sit A short vowel sound heard in words like sit, fish, and milk.
Example: Sit
to rest on a chair with your body down
🇫🇷 French: S’asseoir
🇩🇪 German: Sitzen
🇮🇹 Italian: Sedersi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sentar
a short vowel sound, like the “i” in sit A short vowel sound heard in words like sit, fish, and milk.
Example: Sit
to rest on a chair with your body down
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Sentarse🇫🇷 French: S’asseoir
🇩🇪 German: Sitzen
🇮🇹 Italian: Sedersi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sentar
🔤 Long I
a long vowel sound, like the “i” in time A long vowel sound heard in words like time, five, and bike.
Example: Time
minutes, hours, and days; when something happens
🇫🇷 French: Temps
🇩🇪 German: Zeit
🇮🇹 Italian: Tempo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tempo
a long vowel sound, like the “i” in time A long vowel sound heard in words like time, five, and bike.
Example: Time
minutes, hours, and days; when something happens
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tiempo🇫🇷 French: Temps
🇩🇪 German: Zeit
🇮🇹 Italian: Tempo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tempo
🟡 Important Consonant Sounds
👅 TH (voiceless)
the “th” sound with air, but no voice Put your tongue gently between your teeth and blow air without using your voice.
Example: Think
to use your mind
🇫🇷 French: Penser
🇩🇪 German: Denken
🇮🇹 Italian: Pensare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pensar
the “th” sound with air, but no voice Put your tongue gently between your teeth and blow air without using your voice.
Example: Think
to use your mind
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pensar🇫🇷 French: Penser
🇩🇪 German: Denken
🇮🇹 Italian: Pensare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pensar
👅 TH (voiced)
the “th” sound with your voice Use the same tongue position, but add your voice.
Example: This
the thing near you
🇫🇷 French: Ceci / Celui-ci
🇩🇪 German: Dies
🇮🇹 Italian: Questo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Este / Esta
the “th” sound with your voice Use the same tongue position, but add your voice.
Example: This
the thing near you
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Este / Esta🇫🇷 French: Ceci / Celui-ci
🇩🇪 German: Dies
🇮🇹 Italian: Questo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Este / Esta
🗣️ R
the English “r” sound In many American accents, the tongue curls back slightly without touching the roof of the mouth.
Example: Red
the color of blood or a stop light
🇫🇷 French: Rouge
🇩🇪 German: Rot
🇮🇹 Italian: Rosso
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vermelho
the English “r” sound In many American accents, the tongue curls back slightly without touching the roof of the mouth.
Example: Red
the color of blood or a stop light
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Rojo🇫🇷 French: Rouge
🇩🇪 German: Rot
🇮🇹 Italian: Rosso
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vermelho
💧 L
the English “l” sound The tip of the tongue touches the ridge just behind the upper teeth.
Example: Light
what helps you see; not dark
🇫🇷 French: Lumière
🇩🇪 German: Licht
🇮🇹 Italian: Luce
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Luz
the English “l” sound The tip of the tongue touches the ridge just behind the upper teeth.
Example: Light
what helps you see; not dark
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Luz🇫🇷 French: Lumière
🇩🇪 German: Licht
🇮🇹 Italian: Luce
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Luz
💨 H
a quiet breath sound at the start of a word Start the word with a gentle breath of air.
Example: Hello
a common word you say when you see someone
🇫🇷 French: Bonjour
🇩🇪 German: Hallo
🇮🇹 Italian: Ciao
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Olá
a quiet breath sound at the start of a word Start the word with a gentle breath of air.
Example: Hello
a common word you say when you see someone
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Hola🇫🇷 French: Bonjour
🇩🇪 German: Hallo
🇮🇹 Italian: Ciao
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Olá
🐝 V
the “v” sound, made with teeth and lip Lightly touch your upper teeth to your lower lip while using your voice.
Example: Very
a lot; much
🇫🇷 French: Très
🇩🇪 German: Sehr
🇮🇹 Italian: Molto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Muito
the “v” sound, made with teeth and lip Lightly touch your upper teeth to your lower lip while using your voice.
Example: Very
a lot; much
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Muy🇫🇷 French: Très
🇩🇪 German: Sehr
🇮🇹 Italian: Molto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Muito
👂 Listen to the Difference: Minimal Pairs
🚢 Ship
a large boat
🐑 Sheep
an animal with wool
a large boat
🐑 Sheep
an animal with wool
🪑 Sit
to rest on a chair
💺 Seat
a place to sit
to rest on a chair
💺 Seat
a place to sit
👅 Think
to use your mind
💧 Sink
the bowl in a kitchen or bathroom for water
to use your mind
💧 Sink
the bowl in a kitchen or bathroom for water
🪭 Fan
a machine or object that moves air
🚐 Van
a large car for carrying things or people
a machine or object that moves air
🚐 Van
a large car for carrying things or people
🍓 Berry
a small fruit
✅ Very
a lot; much
a small fruit
✅ Very
a lot; much
🏠 Live
to have your home in a place
🚪 Leave
to go away from a place
to have your home in a place
🚪 Leave
to go away from a place
🔴 Word Stress & Intonation
🎵 Two-syllable nouns
say the first part of the word more strongly Many common two-syllable nouns are stressed on the first syllable.
Example: TAble
a piece of furniture with a flat top
Example: TEAcher
a person who helps students learn
say the first part of the word more strongly Many common two-syllable nouns are stressed on the first syllable.
Example: TAble
a piece of furniture with a flat top
Example: TEAcher
a person who helps students learn
🎵 Two-syllable verbs
say the second part of the word more strongly Many common two-syllable verbs are stressed on the second syllable.
Example: reLAX
to rest and feel calm
Example: deCIDE
to choose what to do
say the second part of the word more strongly Many common two-syllable verbs are stressed on the second syllable.
Example: reLAX
to rest and feel calm
Example: deCIDE
to choose what to do
⚡ Important content words
say the important words in a sentence more strongly In sentences, we stress the important words (nouns, verbs, adjectives) and reduce the smaller grammar words.
Example: I NEED some WAter.
I want water
say the important words in a sentence more strongly In sentences, we stress the important words (nouns, verbs, adjectives) and reduce the smaller grammar words.
Example: I NEED some WAter.
I want water
🌍 Regional Pronunciation
English is spoken in many countries, so pronunciation naturally varies from place to place. For example, the letter R is usually pronounced more clearly in American English than in many British accents. Words like dance and bath may also sound different depending on the region.
These differences are a normal part of English. Focus on speaking clearly and consistently rather than trying to copy one particular accent. Clear pronunciation is more important than having a perfect regional accent.
These differences are a normal part of English. Focus on speaking clearly and consistently rather than trying to copy one particular accent. Clear pronunciation is more important than having a perfect regional accent.
💬 Pronunciation Challenge
🟢 Easy
🍎 Apple
a round fruit that is often red or green
a round fruit that is often red or green
💧 Water
the clear liquid we drink
the clear liquid we drink
🌞 Happy
feeling good; glad
feeling good; glad
🟡 Medium
👅 Thursday
the day after Wednesday
the day after Wednesday
🌍 World
the Earth; all people and places
the Earth; all people and places
📚 Important
something that matters a lot
something that matters a lot
🔴 Challenge
👅 Three thin things
a practice sentence for the “th” sound
a practice sentence for the “th” sound
🏡 Rural
in the country, not in the city
in the country, not in the city
☕ Would you like a cup of coffee?
a polite way to offer coffee
a polite way to offer coffee
💡 Helpful Tip
Practice a little every day instead of trying to master every sound at once. English spelling does not always match pronunciation, so listening carefully and repeating aloud is one of the best ways to improve.
You can also record yourself, compare your pronunciation with the audio, and repeat the words that are most difficult for you. Remember, speaking clearly is more important than sounding exactly like a native speaker.
You can also record yourself, compare your pronunciation with the audio, and repeat the words that are most difficult for you. Remember, speaking clearly is more important than sounding exactly like a native speaker.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the word that fits.
Read the situation. Choose the word that fits.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%