Get to know your English Pronunciation
As a non-native English speaker pronouncing some English sounds and stresses (rhythms) is likely to be difficult for you. A Star Pronunciation course guides you through correcting the sounds and stresses (rhythms) that you find difficult. Correcting these areas of English pronunciation will improve your English accent, making your speech sound more like a native English speaker and making it easy for people to understand your English.
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English has over 40 different sounds. There are two types of sounds; vowel sounds and consonant sounds. All of them are listed below. Click to listen to each sound by itself and in words. Record your speech and compare it with the native speaker.
Listen carefully to the sounds you make.
English Vowel Sounds
Short Vowel |
Listen to the Native Speaker |
Record Your Own Speech |
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/ɪ/ | hit | pick | miss | tip | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/1.short_i_.mp3] | |
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/e/ | let | neck | mess | wet | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/2.short_e_.mp3] | |
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/æ/ | sat | back | hat | cap | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/3.short_ae_.mp3] | |
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/ɒ/ | hot | sock | boss | top | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/4.short_o_.mp3] | |
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/ʌ/ | cut | luck | fuss | cup | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/5.short_uuu_.mp3] | |
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/ʊ/ | put | look | cook | good | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/6.short_u_.mp3] | |
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/ə/ | This vowel is in many weak syllables: apart | pilot | carrot | minute |
[dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/7.schwa_.mp3] | |
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Now, let’s try the long vowels. Pay careful attention to how long the vowel is.
English Long Vowels |
Listen to the Native Speaker |
Record Your Own Speech |
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/i:/ | heat | peak | piece | leap | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/8.long_i_.mp3] | |
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/a:/ | start | dark | laugh | ask | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/9.long_a_.mp3] | |
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/u:/ | suit | threw | juice | soon | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/10.long_u_.mp3] | |
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/ɔ:/ | caught | pork | horse | form | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/11.-long_or_.mp3] | |
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/ɜ:/ | hurt | work | nurse | sir | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/12.long_er_.mp3] | |
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English Double Vowels
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Listen to the Native Speaker |
Record Your Own Speech |
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/aɪ/ | light | like | rice | ripe | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/13.diphth_ai_.mp3] | |
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/eɪ/ | late | lake | race | train | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/14.diphth_ei_.mp3] | |
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/ɔɪ/ | boy | choice | voice | noise | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/15.diphth_oi_.mp3] | |
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/aʊ/ | about | found | house | down | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/16.diphth_au_.mp3] | |
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/oʊ/ | note | coke | hose | phone | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/17.diphth_ou_.mp3] | |
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/ɪə/ | hear | near | fear | beer | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/18.diphth_ia_.mp3] | |
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/eə/ | hair | share | pear | chair | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/19.diphth_air_.mp3] | |
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/ʊə/ | pure | tour | lure | cure | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/20.diphth_ua_.mp3] | |
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English Consonant Sounds
Listen carefully to the sounds you make.
Consonant Sounds |
Listen to the Native Speaker |
Record Your Own Speech |
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/p//b/ | pay | happy | cupbay | trouble | rub | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/21._p_-and-_b_.mp3] | |
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/t//d/ | tip | letter | satdip | ladder | sad | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/22._t_-and-_d_.mp3] | |
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/k//g/ | came | talking | backgame | bigger | bag | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/23._k_-and-_g_.mp3] | |
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/f//v/ | fine | offer | offvine | saving | of | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/24._f_-and-_v_.mp3] | |
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/θ//ð/ | thin | method | boththen | other | with | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/25.th-and-th.mp3] | |
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/s//z/ | sue | missing | facezoo | crazy | phase | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/26.s-and-z.mp3] | |
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/ʃ//ʒ/ | show | pushing | rushmeasure | asia | vision | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/27.sh-and-z.mp3] | |
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/ʧ//ʤ/ | choke | watching | catchjoke | charging | large | | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/28.ch-and-dz.mp3] | |
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/l/ | love | follow | well | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/29_l_.mp3] | |
/m/ | mail | humour | some | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/30._m_.mp3] | |
/n/ | nail | funny | nine | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/31._n_.mp3] | |
/ŋ/ | singer | sing | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/32._ng_.mp3] | |
/h/ | heal | perhaps | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/33._h_.mp3] | |
/r/ | real | correct | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/34._r_.mp3] | |
/j/ | you | beyond | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/35._j_.mp3] | |
/w/ | we | showing | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/36._w_.mp3] | |
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English Syllable Stress
The way we use the pitch of the voice to stress certain syllables in English is very important for speaking clearly. This makes the ‘music’ of English.
This is often a particularly difficult area for non-native speakers. With your Star Pronunciation Course you will learn how to hear and make the correct rhythm and stress in English words and sentences.
Listen carefully to the up and down of the voice.
English Syllable Stress |
Listen to the Native Speaker |
Record Your Own Speech |
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politicspoliticalpoliticians | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/37.politics.mp3] | ||
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techniquetechnicaltechnology | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/38.-technique.mp3] | ||
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economyeconomiceconomical | [dewplayer:https://www.starpronunciation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/39.-economy.mp3] | ||
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For other helpful tips and free resources:
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Listen to the pronunciation of words at the Cambridge Online Dictionary.
Read great Accent, Speech, Pronunciation Tips.
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