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How do you pronounce the word "promptly"?

I have a question about the pronunciation of the word "promptly." I've checked several sites, but it seems there are two variations. One pronounces the word with the "T" as "...
Stev's user avatar
  • 11
-1 votes
2 answers
99 views

How should the name "Kimia" be spelled? [closed]

My name is Kimia, but I have no idea which of the following spellings is right; Kimia or Kimya. I gotta say the last syllable of my name is pronounced like Mia. Would you tell me which one is correct?
Kim's user avatar
  • 11
2 votes
2 answers
101 views

pronunciation/transcription confusion - pronouncing words as they are spelt vs pronouncing them just like the transcription

For example, here's the IPA transcriptions for the word "privacy": /ˈprɪvəsi,ˈprʌɪvəsi/ I want to pronounce "privacy" in a general american accent, like /ˈprʌɪvəsi/ if I say it ...
needhelp1234's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
260 views

How to pronounce /d/ vs /də/ as in dwell

My old teacher found I like inserting schwa after consonants. When I was pronouncing and, I said it like /əndə/. She asked me to drop the last d to avoid the epenthesis. Now I'm learning the word ...
Gqqnbig's user avatar
  • 664
0 votes
1 answer
61 views

Correct pronunciation of Masked

In the dictionary, I saw that masked pronunciation is written as : /mɑːskt/ Does that mean that after saying mask, we emphasize saying kt? So there should not be any sound of the letter d when saying ...
nick shetty's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Is it wrong to pronounce "to" as /tə/ before words starting with vowels?

In Oxford Dictionary, it says it is correct to pronounce "to" as /tə/ only before words starting with a consonant. It seems fair to me too because /tə/ sounds off and unsmooth before vowels; ...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
2 votes
1 answer
273 views

Pronunciation of "tag" in American English

I have heard some American English speakers saying the word "tag" like [tεg], but the [ɛ] vowel is somewhat lengthened. Is that a specific regional accent? I can't find this pronunciation on ...
user139414's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
80 views

Is the d in "lived in" flapped in American English?

I am trying to say the sentence : how long have you lived in the US My pronunciation of "lived in" feels so heavy handed compared to this audio recording. I wonder, is the d flapped? It ...
Emy's user avatar
  • 113
1 vote
1 answer
119 views

What methods should I use to soften or remove my accent? [closed]

https://voca.ro/1jeSBpuxHA4c I've had a weird journey learning English. Having grown up in Canada, I learned English before I learned my own native language. Once I moved back to the country from ...
Ali's user avatar
  • 27
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

Dropping the /t/ sound in words like, "wanted" [duplicate]

In my experience, a lot of Americans, on many occasions, don't make the standard /t/ sound in words like "wanted," "twenty," "accidentally," "presented," "...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
-1 votes
1 answer
370 views

Where can I listen to a General American accent on the Internet so I can study it? [closed]

What about YouTube channels, movies, news, radio, and audiobooks? Do all of them speak with a General American Accent? How can I be sure they are 100% General American accent not just 90% of it? I ...
user avatar
9 votes
6 answers
3k views

Is there a Russian accent in my pronunciation of "lee"?

My first language is Russian. I tried to learn American English pronunciation of the word "lee" and other words containing / li / sound, like "delete". When I compared the ...
Andrej Adamenko's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
437 views

Is General American Accent the only choice for me so I am understood by everyone?

I am learning English. If I want to be understood by everyone, I need to learn an accent. I know no matter how hard I try, I will never sound perfect but learning 80% is enough for me. Every time ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
225 views

"Law" vs "Lawyer" pronunciation, why is the "law" part sometimes pronounced differently?

So I've recently watched "Crazy Ex Girlfriend" (which is set in SoCal), and I've noticed everyone there pronounced "Law" and "Lawyer" differently, which was really ...
Opal's user avatar
  • 121
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

US-American pronunciation of 'e'

Since quite some time I get the impression, that especially in US-American, spoken english the pronunciation of 'e' (as in 'best' — /ɛ/) seems to shift towards 'a' (as in 'flat' — /æ/). Some recent ...
Pumpfish's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
201 views

How to pronounce the "n" in "wasn't really..." fast?

When people say "wasn't really" really fast, does the tongue position for /n/ in "wasn't" exactly the same as an usual /n/? (like in this description.) I ask this question because ...
CYC's user avatar
  • 3,019
1 vote
1 answer
234 views

Does google really pronounce a schwa here as it says rather than an "i"?

When I google "authentic pronunciation" or "enjoy pronunciation", it will show the followings: However, they don't sound like "tuhk" or "uhn" to me as it says (what google pronounces when I click ...
CYC's user avatar
  • 3,019
0 votes
0 answers
68 views

Do we release all consonant sounds that appear at the end of the word which ends the sentence in AmE?

Do we release all the consonant sounds that appear at the end of the word ending a sentence? Examples: I am at work. There was a Big Bang. I have a new hope. He has a big heart.
Sajan Gurung's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
366 views

Is it a very common and recognized way to pronounce the word "opposite" /ˈɑː.pə.sɪt/?

Cambridge Dictionary gives an IPA /ˈɑː.pə.zɪt/ for the word "opposite", which totally fits with what I know. This American kindergarten teacher in the YouTube video titled: Antonym Rap: Reviewing ...
WXJ96163's user avatar
  • 3,127
2 votes
1 answer
934 views

How do you make the flap t sound as in the words city and letter

I'm having a hard time figuring out the right placement and motions of the tongue when making this consonant. I watched a few videos on this topic. People say that in order to make the sound you don't ...
Богдана Мельник's user avatar
4 votes
5 answers
962 views

American pronunciation of "second" (edited)

I'm learning American English with some online classes, and the instructor says that the 2nd vowel 'o' of "second" sounds like "/e/" in everyday conversation (e.g. "Can I talk to you for a second?"). ...
Patche's user avatar
  • 143
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

American English pronunciation: basically or "basicly"?

Does the final "a" drop out in words like "basically", "logically", etc, or should I pronounce it?
James's user avatar
  • 103
0 votes
2 answers
251 views

American pronunciation of (tall, taught, law, bought) vs (father, pasta, drop)

I have two tutorials by Cook and by Cameron. Cameron suggests that these two groups are pronounced differently: e.g. in "drop" the tongue is perfectly flat, but in "jaw" it goes up by 1/8 of an inch. ...
James's user avatar
  • 103
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

Do I have to pronounce the letter "l" as light or dark when there is a double "l" followed by a vowel in a word?

It is known that when the letter l is followed by a vowel then it is pronounced as light, and when it is at the end of a word or is followed by a consonant then it is pronounced as dark. But it is ...
Dmytro O'Hope's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
524 views

In American English, can we flap the /d/ in the phrases "Where did", "Where do", "Where don't" and "Where does"?

I am 99% sure Americans quite often flap the /d/ sound which comes right after /r/ in the phrases "Where did", "Where do", "Where don't" and "Where does" (I am talking about the initial /d/'s), and I ...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
1 vote
2 answers
746 views

Pronunciation of "are"

In these sentences below, can I pronounce the "are"s as /ər/ instead of /ɑr/? I am talking about American English. Sentences: 1) "Problems of most people are not big." 2) "People who smoke ...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
3 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can I make an unaspirated /t/ sound in the words like "best", "chest", "belt" etc. in American English?

As far as I know, if there is a vowel before the final /t/ or if there is the letter /n/ before the final /t/, we can make an unaspirated /t/ sound in American English. For example: "hot", "cut", "...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can I pronounce "you" as /ju/ intead of /juː/ in this kind of sentences?

"You want to see my muscles?" "You love dogs." "You wanna see my moves?" "You like him." "You come with me." etc. In this kind of sentences where "you" is at the beginning of the sentence, can I ...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
3 votes
1 answer
485 views

How to pronounce a voiceless stop when it's at the end of a word which is behind a word that starts with a vowel?

I wonder if Americans usually make an unaspirated sound when the letters "k", "p" or "t" is at the end of a word and when the next word starts with a vowel. I know that I should make a flap sound when ...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
3 votes
3 answers
430 views

Can I drop both of the "h"s in the phrases "his or her", "him or her" and "his or hers"?

As you know the "h"s in the words "him", "his", "he", "her" and "hers", if there is a consonant before them, can be dropped. For example the "h" in the sentence "Why does he like you so much?" can be ...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
2 votes
2 answers
395 views

Pronunciation of the second /k/ in "excuse"?

The "p" in "application" is unaspirated and the "p" in "apply" is aspirated since it is the first letter in the stressed syllable, am I right? When an unvoiced stop is the first letter of a stressed ...
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
3 votes
2 answers
345 views

Pronunciation of the "p" in the words like "splatter", "splash", "split", "explain" in American accent?

In the words like "splatter", "splash", "split" and "explain" should I make an aspirated or an unaspirated "p" sound? I can't decide which way is correct. I need your help.
Fire and Ice's user avatar
  • 1,356
3 votes
1 answer
695 views

Palm RP and GA pɑːm pɑm pɑlm

I'm confused with the different pronunciations of "calm". I'm using lexical sets to understand the differences between Received Pronunciation and General American. According to Wikipedia, the ...
Alba English's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
330 views

Is it possible to pronounce jury as /dʒɜːri/?

sometimes I hear Americans pronounce jury as ''/dʒɜːri/''. Is that right? Is it regional or generally they say this way?
Masih K's user avatar
  • 1,101
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

How do you make the flap t sound as in "Better" and "letter"?

How do I make the flap/tap t sound as in words like: better, matter, stutter, moto, but I'm, bottom and so?
Dannie's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
2 answers
972 views

Can we drop the T sound in word grunting in American English?

I was taught that when the T sound after an N sound, the T can be dropped in American English. As internet can be pronounced as innernet, winter can be winner, printer can be prinner. What about ...
Henry Wang's user avatar
  • 1,891
0 votes
1 answer
303 views

Pronouncing The American R

I realize this might be more of an accent question, but trying to master that American R sound, I don't quite know if I'm doing it correctly. That is, I sound very similar to the recordings I hear but ...
noam b's user avatar
  • 127
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

how to pronounce words 'baths' in actual conversation?

I was confused by the pronunciation of consonant cluster 'ths' at the end of the word. For example: the cluster 'ths' in word months, according to ESL teaching videos on Youtube,video for months' ...
Henry Wang's user avatar
  • 1,891
2 votes
2 answers
434 views

Should the last letter 'd' pronounced in word 'independent'?

I've got to know that the 'T' sound in American English has various pronunciation rules. For example, flap T. And also one of the rule is when T sound followed by an 'n' sound or 'ən' sound, the 'T' ...
Henry Wang's user avatar
  • 1,891
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Have you ever said "muna" instead of "gonna"?

What do you think about this word? Please watch this video for explanation.
Maurocrispin's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
820 views

Are 'bud' and 'butt' pronounced identically in American English accent?

Just for clarification, I'm more uncertain of the way the vowel after /b/ is pronounced in the two words and if it's the same in both words, rather than the ending consonant(s), although I would ...
user34244's user avatar
  • 407
0 votes
2 answers
137 views

How do we pronounce the 's' in 'has the' regarding American Accent? [closed]

Should it be pronounced as /z/ or /s/ ?
English Learner Foreign's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
353 views

How do we pronounce the 's' after the d in a word? [duplicate]

For example: words, foods, goods, etc. And if without the 's', how would the 'd' in those words be pronounced? Would it be pronounced like voiced /d/ or unvoiced /d/?
Wilbur Huỳnh's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
344 views

Rapid speech pronunciation of <What do they> call a whopper

I'd like to know why in the audio clip here what sounds like /hu/. Is it because what could oddly enough be pronounced as /hwʌt/ that starts with /h/. I'd like to add that I don't remember I've heard ...
learner's user avatar
  • 5,948
0 votes
1 answer
508 views

Does Jessica Lange's character in "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" accurately portray a Southern US accent?

Jessica Lange was born and brought up in Minnesota. It seems to me that her southern accent in the movie is a bit too exaggerated (read overacted) compared to that of Tommy Lee Jones. Am I mistaken? ...
Makoto Kato's user avatar
  • 2,026
0 votes
1 answer
173 views

Stress in the question Do you want some coffee?

when we pronounce the question: "Do you want some coffee?" we usually only stress the words "want" and "coffee". Am I right? As far as I know the determiner "some" is unstressed as long as the stress ...
Zoltan King's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
4k views

Stress in the sentence "I'm proud of you, Hannah"

I know that we usually stress content words in a sentence and unstress function words as long as stress is not shifted for special emphasis. In the sentence, "I'm proud of you, Hannah", I would ...
Zoltan King's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
416 views

Pronunciations of "class" as found in Collins American English Dictionary

The Collins American English Dictionary gives class two pronunciations, presumably with respect to American English. Does this mean American English speakers use both equally and that both are okay?...
william007's user avatar
  • 1,985
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Do Americans pronounce 'are' as 'do' in "What are you waiting for"

It seems a stupid question, but I already hear American on TV or movies or even songs, say Are like Do in this context What are you waiting for I just listened to it again in this song https://...
Marco Dinatsoli's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
89 views

Schwa Sounds in American Accent [duplicate]

I am new in America and I see most of the people use schwa sounds with most of the characters as p,w, k,c and so on. I wanted to know what all characters have the schwa sound and when and how to use ...
chetank's user avatar
  • 121