American English Pronunciation

Vowel I and vowel ee: Eat vs. it

6/5/2015

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One of the most common error sounds in American English is the Vowel I, or short i vowel. This is frequently mispronounced as the long e vowel, or Vowel ee. For example, the word it is mispronounced as eat. Is sounds more like ease, ship like sheep, etc. First learn how to make Vowel I and Vowel ee. Then try the recordings below to work on your new sound, Vowel I.

How to Make Vowel I and Vowel EE

Vowel I Words

Vowel I words: Programming

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American Accent Training for Russian Speakers

6/3/2015

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New to this page? You may want to start here.

The sound system of your native language affects how you hear and pronounce other languages. When speaking American English, native Russian speakers have accent patterns based on first hearing and speaking Russian. Use the chart below to learn more about the Russian accent in English. Click on the individual sounds for recordings and help with pronunciation.

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sound

p

t

k

b

d

g

v

th
(as in “think”)

th
(as in “those”)

z

sh

j

ng

r

w

consonant clusters

error pattern

can sound like “b” at the start of words

can sound like “d” at the start of words
can be missing at the end 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 s at the start or ends of words

can sound like d or z at the start or ends of words

can sound like s at the ends of words

can sound like sh at the start or ends of words

can sound like ch at the start or 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

Example

pay sounds like bay

to sounds like do
late sounds like lay

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 sing
bath sounds like bass

those sounds like doze or zoze
breathe sounds like breeze

buzz sounds like bus

cheese sounds like she’s
bush sounds like butch

Jerry sounds like cherry
ridge sounds like rich

thing sounds like think

why sounds like vie

lived sounds like live,
want sounds like wan,
words sounds like word

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Welcome to Online Practice

5/31/2015

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This site contains practice materials for you to improve your pronunciation and intonation in American English. The materials here are a small sample of the materials available on our subscription-based online practice site. Try them out, and if you find them helpful, consider purchasing a subscription to the full site. If you need help knowing what sounds and patterns you need to work on, you can complete a free speech screening here.

For a free consultation to learn more about using this site, working with an accent coach, or how to work on your own, simply provide your contact information below. We will call you to arrange a free consultation via telephone or Skype.