You can use this chart to identify which pronunciation targets you can work on to improve your American Accent. Many sounds link to practice materials or further information. If you would like to access even more pronunciation practice, consider a subscription to our full online practice site.
sound p t k b d g v th (as in “think”) th (as in “those”) z sh j ng r w consonant clusters /ɪ/ “vowel ɪ” as in “it” /e/ “vowel ay” as in “ate” /æ/ “vowel a” as in “at” /a/ “vowel ah” as in “hot” /ʊ/ “vowel U” as in wood /ə/ “vowel schwa” as in but /ɝ,ɚ/ “vowel er” as in “bird” | error pattern can sound like “b” at the start of words can sound like “d” at the start of words can sound like “g” at the start of words can sound like “p” at the ends of words can sound like “t” at the ends of words, or be left off the ends of words can sound like “k” at the ends of words can sound like w at the start of words, can sound like f at the ends of words can sound like t at the start or ends of words can sound like d at the start or ends of words can sound like s at the ends of words can sound like s at the start of words can sound like ch or zh at the ends of words can have an extra g or k sound can be rolled can sound like v at the start of words can have sounds left off or have the same errors listed above can sound like vowel ee can sound like vowel eh can sound like vowel ah can sound like vowel o can sound like vowel oo can be pronounced like the written letter rather than the American “uh” sound can be rolled, or sound like vowel schwa | Example pay sounds like bay to sounds like do cap sounds like gap robe sounds like rope code sounds like coat, or we’d sounds like we pig sounds like pick very sounds like wary leave sounds like leaf thing sounds like ting with sounds like wit those sounds like dose breathe sounds like breed buzz sounds like bus she sounds like see ridge sounds like rich thing sounds like think why sounds like vie lived sounds like live, want sounds like wan, words sounds like word it sounds like eat wait sounds like wet cat sounds like cot not sounds like note look sounds like Luke banana sounds like “bah-nah-nah” rather than “buh-nah-nuh” bird sounds like bud |