Questions tagged [pronunciation]
This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer about the sound, intonation, and stress of how words are uttered or produced.
1,171
questions
0
votes
0
answers
32
views
List of words with the FOOT vowel
Trying to compile an easy-to-memorize list of the words that use the FOOT /ʊ/ vowel for the use of someone who has trouble figuring out where to use that and where the GOOSE /u/ vowel. Only listing ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
What is the stressed syllable in perseverance?
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/perseverance
perseverance
UK /ˌpɜː.sɪˈvɪə.rəns/ US /ˌpɝː.səˈvɪr.əns/
Why is the stress on vɪr not on sə?
- 2,849
1
vote
0
answers
75
views
what make "and I" sounds like "ne" and "that" sounds like "de" to me? [duplicate]
According to the Wikipedia introduction, the speaker is a British-American computer scientist and an adjunct professor at Stanford University. So I think he is pronunciation is rather native, at ...
- 857
1
vote
1
answer
94
views
Is It a common way to say "to be" as "[tuː][buː]"?
I just notice the speaker pronounce "to be" as "[tuː][buː]" in the sentence.
I think "to be" could be pronounced as "[tuːbi]" or [tu:bə]. why in the audio the ...
- 857
-2
votes
0
answers
93
views
Confusion about pronounciation of "businesses" sounds like "busisses"
The transcript is
Hello and welcome. As you probably know, deep learning has already
transformed traditional internet businesses like web search and
advertising.
In the audio
the pronounce "...
- 857
-1
votes
1
answer
48
views
Why Mx is spoken as mɪks instead of mks?
In the dictionary -- https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/mx
Mx in British English (mɪks IPA Pronunciation Guide IPA Pronunciation
Guide , məks IPA Pronunciation Guide ) noun a title ...
- 1,327
1
vote
2
answers
86
views
'a/an' before acronyms: British vs American
I learned English grammar by reading a few books published by OUP (a British organization/company). According to the books, what determines whether 'a' or 'an' is used before a countable noun is not ...
- 269
2
votes
2
answers
139
views
Is it my ears or is it the narrator pronouncing"...JAGGED CLIFFS" something like ".... JAG IL TIFFS."?
Cornered, the seals keep close to the jagged cliffs. BBC (see:1:19-1:23)
I listened to it more than 10 times and suprised to hear the "...jagged cliffs" was pronounced something like ".....
- 5,686
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
In almost all dictionaries the transcription of "solely" has two "L" — [ˈs ə u l l i]. Does it mean to say "solely" with one "L" is unnatural?
The transcription of "solely" is [ˈsəʊlli].
The fact that there are two "L" perplexes me.
Is it unnatural for you to pronounce "solely" with one "L"? (I mean: [...
- 2,778
10
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Isn't it convenient to pronounce "-man" in "salesman" and "-men" in "salesmen" differently as you do it in "man [mæn]" and "men [men]"?
"Man" and "men" are different in pronunciation:
man [mæn]
men [men]
As are some other word pairs:
handyman [ˈhændimæn]
handymen [ˈhændimen]
bogeyman [ˈbəʊɡimæn]
bogeymen [ˈbəʊɡimen]...
- 2,778
1
vote
1
answer
25
views
Stress of word 'flagrant' /ˈfleɪɡrənt/ is Flagrant or FLAgrant or something else?
Stress of word 'flagrant' /ˈfleɪɡrənt/ is Flagrant or FLAGrant or something else?
My problem is I don't know stress at f (Flagrant) or fleɪ (FLAgrant) (separation of sounds, because as you seen, it is ...
- 257
0
votes
1
answer
59
views
What are the meanings of dot in word what show in Oxford Dictionary advanced learners for mobile?
What are the meanings of dot in word what show in Oxford Dictionary advanced learners for mobile (licensed subscription)?
Example word: ability . Web version of Oxford dictionary for advanced ...
- 257
1
vote
3
answers
77
views
How to explain, "listen" has 5 sounds while its pronunciation is `/ˈlɪsn/`? Why not 4 sounds?
Book Cambridge pronunciation in Use Elementary, at Section B, item A3c
In some words there are silent letters (letters with no sound). In
listen, t is silent.
listen 6 letters, 5 sounds
+---+---+---+...
- 257
0
votes
1
answer
63
views
Position of stress in 3-letter-abbreviation: BBC and DVD
Book "English pronunciation in use - Advance" [E1] page 40:
(1) the ˌBBˈC
(2) He works for the BBˈC.
(3) He works for ˈBBC RAdio.
Book "Oxford Word skill - intermediate - 1st edition&...
- 257
2
votes
1
answer
101
views
Why /ˈlem.ən/ (Cambridge dictionary - UK voice) but read like /ˈlemən/ (Oxford dictionary - UK voice)?
I am learning at English Pronunciation in Use - Advanced. I seen
Why /ˈlem.ən/ (Cambridge dictionary - UK voice) but read like /ˈlemən/ (Oxford dictionary - UK voice)?
I feel dot . in /ˈlem.ən/ was ...
- 257
2
votes
0
answers
121
views
Why does this British speaker pronounce the word "gerund" as "/gerUND/" instead of /dʒɛrənd/?
This is from a British speaker who teaches speaking skills to millions of students. In one of his videos, he mentions the word "gerund" but he pronounces it "/gerUND/". Speaking ...
- 5,686
0
votes
0
answers
32
views
Different pronunciations of "disputes"
Recently I have come across an outtake from a YouTube video about different pronunciations of the word "disputes" depending on the context. According to my understanding from that video:
&...
- 101
4
votes
2
answers
483
views
Do you ever put stress on the auxiliary verb in AUX + NOT?
Do you ever put stress on the auxiliary verbs in do not, may not, will not, should not, etc. without contracting them?
If we take a look at don't, can't, won't, shouldn't, for example, the n't part ...
- 185
-2
votes
1
answer
60
views
Is it a pronunciation mistake in Trump's inauguration speech? [duplicate]
Did Trump here mistakenly pronounce the "~ing ou~" of
We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs.
...
- 83
-3
votes
1
answer
92
views
Tu in opportunity as /tu/? [closed]
I heard some people pronounce tu in opportunity as /tu/ which I find a drastically un-unexpected way of pronunciation. Why is that?
update: don't get upset, the question is not about accent. It's ...
- 2,190
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
Pronouncing "Scallywag"
I am old enough to have seen "Mischief Makers" (=Our Gang/Little Rascals,
mostly German version, but I also know the original: Youtube).
Back then I of course didn't know what a scallywag is,...
- 913
1
vote
3
answers
155
views
Why does Wagner begin with a "w" and not a "v"?
Private Military Company Wagner has made headlines ever since the escalation of the armed conflict in Ukraine. I have watched and listened to multiple news outlets report on its activities. Some read ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
21
views
Can you turn a declarative sentence into a interrogative sentence with changing pronunciation type or way of tone? [duplicate]
Looks like you can change a declarative sentence to interrogative by changing your way of speech. I have come across this several times, What do you think?
Hey man, How's it going?
-Hey fine, And you?...
- 556
0
votes
1
answer
50
views
Reference for pronunciation of nicknames
Is there a reference for first names and surnames in English? I have lots of firstnames and surnames in my book (e.g. Juan, Sri, Elena, Robert and so on) but I don't know how to pronounce them in ...
1
vote
2
answers
93
views
Do you pronounce the "l" in "cool", "school", etc?
The IPA for "cool" is /ku:l/ and for school is /sku:l/. There is the /l/ sound in both words according to the IPA.
However, an American friend of mine told me that native speakers don't ...
- 227
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why is the tag question positive in this dialogue from Downton Abbey? "Then we must be ready by tomorrow, must we?"
In this clip (2:28) of Downton Abbey you can hear Sybil saying:
Then we must be ready by tomorrow, must we?
Now, if she's using a tag question, why isn't she forming the negative?
Maybe I'm ...
- 193
3
votes
1
answer
319
views
Is it okay always to pronunce unstressed vowels as schwa?
Recently I am reading Mastering the American Accent by Lisa Mojsin. Here are some quotes from this book:
The vowel within the unstressed syllable is reduced and becomes a neutral, short vowel called ...
- 141
-1
votes
1
answer
53
views
Do you pronounce discount or disgount?
I learned in English class that you should change pronunciation, k to g, t to d and p to b, that is immediately after s in spoken English, like express -> exbress and skill -> sgill. I am using ...
- 1
20
votes
5
answers
5k
views
How do you read "10/10"?
How do you read "10/10", as in "10/10, no notes"? it is a score! The "no notes" comes from the acting community, I think: you've done so well, that the director has no ...
- 211
11
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Why does this native speaker (Youtuber) say "...a island" but not "...an island": "I thought the 50 grand was getting me a island."
This is from an American Youtuber's video. Mr. Beast comparing most expensive and the cheapest hotels (see: 4:06-4:08)
In the video, they compare the cheapest and the most expensive hotels, and while ...
- 5,686
1
vote
2
answers
70
views
Flapped T in the word “appetite”
In the word “appetite” T is between 2 vowels and it’s not flapped T according to Oxford American English dictionary. Why?
- 19
0
votes
2
answers
89
views
Is it "When the wicked" or "devil a wicked" in "Rivers of Babylon: Boney M"?
I am studying English with the song "Rivers of Babylon: Boney M". I can't hear well the "When the wicked" part. It sounds like "devil a wicked" to me, but the text is &...
- 9
2
votes
3
answers
157
views
What is the right pronunciation of "planned"?
Today in my English class my teacher taught us about the "plan" verb using it in present perfect.
I was curious what is the right pronunciation of "planned" in American or British ...
- 23
7
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Should convert 'k' and 't' sounds to 'g' and 'd' sounds when they follow 's' in a word for pronunciation?
Should convert 'k' and 't' sounds to 'g' and 'd' sounds when they follow 's' in a word for pronunciation?
For example, stamp is pronounced as 's dæm p', etc.
- 79
0
votes
3
answers
133
views
How do I say "An aspect ratio of 4:3" and proportions?
When you deal with images you have to mention aspect ratios, that are written as "16:9", "4:3" etc. and image dimensions that are written as "480x320", "3840x2160&...
- 615
4
votes
1
answer
765
views
Why does "sub" prefix have two different pronunciations?
The title tells the story! As an English learner I noticed that some words consisting the "sub" are sometimes pronounced slightly different. For example according to the Merriam-Webster (...
- 153
0
votes
2
answers
35
views
Understanding the language of pronunciation [duplicate]
In most of the dictionaries apart from the meaning of the word, there is also a list of characters that tell how to pronounce the word.
Is there a specific name for those things? How to understand ...
- 775
0
votes
0
answers
71
views
Struggling to pronounce words ending with "sts"
When it comes to plural words ending with "sts" (e.g. "Scientists", "Atheists", "Priests"), It becomes very difficult for me to pronounce the "sts" ...
- 201
0
votes
1
answer
53
views
Why are "glass", "bath", "bastard", "can't", "example", "past" pronounced with /ɑː/ in Southern English accents?
The list in the subject isn't comprehensive - these are exAmples of words where an "a" is not followed by an "r", but still in Southern England (e.g. RP) people pronounce them with ...
- 415
0
votes
1
answer
63
views
"I was set" versus "I was sat"
In a television show I heard chef Gordon Ramsay say: "I was set at this table by the waitress." However it is also possible that he said: "I was sat at this table by the waitress."
...
- 109
1
vote
0
answers
32
views
How can I find free British RP articulatory phonetics images?
I need some free images of British RP articulatory phonetics (for 44 sounds) like the following one.
However, I can collect them from youtube video tutorials by taking snapshots. But the problem is ...
0
votes
1
answer
55
views
Are "knees" and "needs" homophones?
I saw an English textbook has a /dz/ phoneme, wondering whether it is simply pronounced as [z] with a silenced [d]
Are needs and knees simply homophones?
Firegun
1
vote
1
answer
104
views
How are words divided to into syllables (consonant clusters)?
My question is more about the pronunciation of words like arbitrary, oblivion and experience. The way theses words are divided into syllables make them harder for me to pronounce them due to the lack ...
- 13
-1
votes
2
answers
67
views
How should I pronounce 'taunting'?
I wonder how I should pronounce the vowel in 'taunting.'
I thought it was [ɔ] sound as in 'haunt,'
Cambridge Dictionary. It says "UK /tɔːnt/ US /tɑːnt/".
but heard many times that some ...
- 99
-1
votes
2
answers
77
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?
- 11
16
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Are patients and patience homophones?
I thought "ts" should sound differently. I believe rights and rice are not homophones; if so, why should patients and patience be homophones? Because the sound t is canceled after n?
These ...
- 984
0
votes
0
answers
36
views
Language student, car door - how do we pronounce them? [duplicate]
Rule for Normal Adjectives + Nouns:
The stress will usually fall on the noun, according to https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/greentea/chapter/word-stress-compound-words-and-adj-noun-combinations/
When ...
- 1,967
0
votes
1
answer
33
views
Pronouncing compound words treated as one unit
When I say "car door" or "bicycle wheel", compound words treated as one unit, how should I pronounce them? which syllables should I stress?
- 1,967
0
votes
0
answers
23
views
How audio analysis can help improving pronunciation?
I'm sorry if it's inappropriate to post this kind of question here but appreciate answering or recommending where to post. Being an engineer who know a little bit about audio analysis I wonder if ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
45
views
you have had a giant win streak -- pronunciation of "a"
you have had a giant win streak -- pronunciation of "a"
Here we are emphasising the greatness of the achievement. So it is natural and very common in such situations to say a in the strong ...
- 511