You can use this chart to identify which pronunciation targets you can work on to improve your American Accent. Some sounds link to practice materials or further information.
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sound t k b d g v th (as in “think”) th (as in “those”) s-blends (sp, st, sk etc.) z sh ch j ng r y consonant clusters /ɪ/ “vowel ɪ” as in “it” /e/ “vowel ay” as in “ate” /ɛ/ “vowel eh” as in get /æ/ “vowel a” as in “at” /a/ “vowel ah” as in “hot” /ʊ/ “vowel U” as in wood /ʌ, ə/ “vowel schwa” as in but /ɝ,ɚ/ “vowel er” as in “bird” | error pattern can be left off the ends of words can be left off the ends of words can sound like “v” at the start of words, can sound like “p” or “v” 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 b at the start of words, can sound like f or be left off at the ends of words can sound like s or t at the start of words can sound like t or be left off the ends of words can sound like d at the start of words can sound like d or voiceless th at the ends of words can have an extra "eh" sound before the s can sound like s at start of words can sound like s or be omitted at the ends of words can sound like ch at the start or ends of words can sound like sh at the start or ends of words can sound like y or zh at the start of words, can sound like sh, ch or zh at the ends of words sounds like n or has an extra g or k sound can be rolled can sounds like j 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 ay 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 light sounds like lie like sounds like lie very sounds like berry robe sounds like rope or rove code sounds like coat, or we’d sounds like we pig sounds like pick very sounds like berry leave sounds like leaf or lee thing sounds like sing or ting with sounds like wit or wih those sounds like dose breathe sounds like breed or breeth school sounds like esschool zip sounds like sip buzz sounds like bus or buh ship sounds like chip wish sounds like which cheese sounds like she’s which sounds like wish job sounds like you or zhob ridge sounds like rish, rich or rizh thing sounds like thin or think yes sounds like jess lived sounds like live, want sounds like wan, words sounds like word it sounds like eat wait sounds like wet get sounds like gate 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 |