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.
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1answer
55 views
Correct pronunciation of EFI
Outside the UK/USA people pronounce acronym EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) in two different versions: [ɪfɪ] and [ɪ-ef-aɪ].
The first argue their pronunciation that 'I', for example, mean '...
0
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1answer
32 views
I need a pronunciation tip
I need to know from a native speaker whether the TH in the word "foul-mouthed" can be pronounced as F. I find it very difficult to make a D sound after the TH.
1
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1answer
23 views
Pronunciation of “idea”: idier? [closed]
Why they pronounce idea like "idier"?
Sometimes they do the same thing with some other words too.
1
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1answer
49 views
How to pronounce “walk” and “work” unambiguously
I moved (because of work) in a non-English speaking country, where pronunciation of English words / sounds can be a problem sometimes. I try to help them improve, since my level of English is much ...
0
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1answer
50 views
How does native English speakers pronounce “that he”?
I'm watching this Youtube video at https://youtu.be/BTMj0jlu5r8?t=190. At around 3:10, the narrator said:
... in fact that he slammed ...
He said it too fast and I can't hear how exactly he ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Pronunciation of the exclamation 'whew'
I know that phew and whew are both exclamations. However, I was surprised that although phew is pronounced as /fjuː/, whew is pronounced as both /hwjuː/ and /fjuː/. How can wh be pronounced like f? ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Where does “day” sound like “die”?
I've seen that words like "day" sound like "die", "pray" sounds like "pry" and so on. I just googled where does day sound like die but didn't get anything.
So, are day and die homephones in some ...
0
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1answer
77 views
How is JSON pronounced? [closed]
I watched a video on https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-pronounce-JSON and read some sites, but don't understand, what letter is emphasized (accentuated, stressed): jAy sawn or jay sAwn?
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1answer
43 views
Pronunciation of the first “t” in “electromagnet”
I am an Indian student, and I must say, I have encountered a lot of variability over the pronunciation of this seemingly harmless word. I'm quite perplexed here.
Dr. Walter Lewin, a renowned physics ...
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3answers
81 views
Is it “a historical account” or “an historical account”?
I saw both of them on various books, so are both valid? Or is it just that 50% of the people are wrong?
I know it's "a universe", but I still have trouble with it. Is there a website that tells you ...
0
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1answer
44 views
How should I pronounce “usual”?
I've been learning English for a while, but I still can't pronounce usual well. The phonetic symbol is [ˈjuʒuəl], but [j] and [ʒ] are my troubles.
What is the pronunciation of [j] and [ʒ]?
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2answers
40 views
Pronunciation of the word 'tablet'
The pronunciation of the word 'tablet' as I found in Oxford dictionary is: [ˈtæblət]
While Google say this: ˈtablɪt.
Which one is correct?
2
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1answer
60 views
How Americans pronounce the T in party?
I have a simple question. I'm just asking about the direction of motion of the tongue (or the tip of the tongue).
I know that the tongue moves from the R (initial position). Then, it quickly hits the ...
0
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0answers
43 views
Do I need to repeat the pronoun “their” in my sentence, when describing something
I would like to describe the help and communication of some workers. I just wonder do I need to repeat the pronoun "their" in my sentence or not.
I would like to thank the staff at the university ...
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0answers
23 views
Tongue exercises helping English
I have a question about pronunciation. I've been studying English practically for my whole life, but for some reason I have such a hard time pronouncing the FLAP T.
I do know how to make it ...
0
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1answer
46 views
Regarding the pronunciation of “address”
pronunciation of address
I'm a post-80s. I had been keeping pronouncing it /əˈd'drɛs/ for many years until recently. Now I know its pronunciation in verb form /əˈdrɛs/ and noun form /ædrɛs/.
I ...
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1answer
39 views
Why “interference” has pronunciation of “/… fɪə …/”?
We speak "interference" as: /ɪntə'fɪər(ə)ns/. However, I do not understand why we don't say it as: /ɪntə'fɜːr(ə)ns/? Just like the word "infer". Why do we pronunce differntly about "fer" part in these ...
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1answer
36 views
how to practise pronouncing r
I have been saying the 'r' sound using my teeth and my top lips.
It sounds weak, often kinda like a 'w'.
I want to start saying it properly all the time, using my tongue.
I can do this, but find ...
1
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1answer
44 views
Question about the pronunciation rule of the letter G followed by e or i
In school I was taught that words with the letter G followed by i or e pronounced as [ʤ] as in the words: page, cage, large, gene, giant, giraffe, image, gel, general, gentle, etc.
With time I found ...
0
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1answer
45 views
English and French reading rules
Lieutenant is a word of French origin, and it is read as /lefˈtenənt/.
I've never learnt French and I don't know anything about French reading rules, unfortunately. But I guess the English reading ...
3
votes
1answer
120 views
I'm fluent in English, but I can't understand names of people and places
Ok, this is a tough one to put into words, so bear with me for a moment please. It is actually the first time I'm writing this down, and it is very difficult to explain. Long story short, I've been ...
0
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1answer
42 views
How to read mixed fractions? [closed]
Is it correct to read mixed fraction 35 466/635 as ' thirty five and four hundred sixty six over six hundred thirty five'?
I know we can read it as thirty five and four hundred sixty six six hundred ...
0
votes
1answer
97 views
How do people normally pronounce the “l” in “welcome”?
I wonder how the dark L in this word is pronounced. I thought when pronouncing a dark L, I should put the tongue tip on the alveolar ridge behind the teeth, but in Rachel's English video she says she ...
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0answers
62 views
How to speak english fluently [closed]
I am here to share one of my personal problem with you. I am not a native English speaker. I learn to read how to read or write in English. I am not very fluent in english. Sometime people ask me ...
1
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1answer
95 views
Problem in pronunciation of voiced and unvoiced th
My sister and I have problem in pronunciation of voiced and unvoiced Th. We used to substitute unvoiced th with \s\ (like in think) and \t\ (like in thank you) and voice th with \d\
Now we are ...
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2answers
49 views
Article or paragraph 47/1 pronunciation question
How should I pronounce 47/1?
India abstained on resolution 47/1 of 22 September 1992.
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1answer
71 views
It tastes like chicken(pronunciation-unstressed end consonant?)
When a particular new food is given to you, and you tasted it, you say:
"Nice! It tasteS like chicken!''
Do you say it with stressed S sound or you don't have to? Because I heard from BBC learning ...
0
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1answer
51 views
Should I pronounce my russian name as an american or as a russian?
In meetings with my teammates from USA they pronounce my russian name "Artem" with American accent(not the way other russians pronounce it). Should I also pronounce other's Russian names with the ...
0
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1answer
50 views
Improve pronunciation if one's English level is already ~C1?
I've been studying English for a while and considered myself a good speaker (mostly because I had passed CAE a year ago). Lately, though, I found myself in an environment where English is used a lot ...
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3answers
3k views
Mam or mum in English crime series
In English crime series I often hear mom or mam or mum. I don't know...
What does it mean? When is an appropriate time to use it?
See this trailer from the BBC's Bodyguard crime series.
-1
votes
1answer
56 views
Pronunciation of word ending with z sound followed by word starting with sh sound
Here are two examples of words ending in a z sound followed by a word starting with a sh sound:
Does she
Always shines.
Do we pronounce the z sound or do we skip it and pronounce sh ...
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vote
2answers
339 views
American English pronunciation: basically or “basicly”?
Does the final "a" drop out in words like "basically", "logically", etc, or should I pronounce it?
1
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1answer
40 views
How do you pronounce the plural of 'f" (f's)? Is it /efs/ or /evz/?
How do you pronounce the plural of 'f" (f's)?
Is it /efs/ or /evz/?
Are there any fixed rules?
1
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2answers
62 views
Complaint vs Complain (AmE pronunciation) [closed]
My question is about the pronunciation of the T of the word complaint.
On one hand, I work for a company where I deal with different nationalities. Some Egyptians, Indians, and other nationalities ...
0
votes
1answer
223 views
How do people normally pronounce it (VAT)?
How do people normally pronounce the abbreviation VAT (Value added tax)?
Which of the two chices is more common?
To read each letter seperately (V.A.T)
To read it as a word (vat)
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1answer
764 views
Why the p in “receipt” is not pronounced?
Is there any known pronunciation rule that justifies the p in "receipt" not being pronounced, does it have to do with the origin of the word or something or how it is? Why the p in "receipt" is not ...
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2answers
64 views
How often do English speakers mishear an important and unimportant?
I know it's silly, but it's been bugging me for a while. Namely, the word unimportant and combination "an important". Whenever I pronounce them I cant' get rid of a feeling that they sound the same, ...
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1answer
70 views
The word IELTS pronunciation
Why does IELTS read [ˈaɪelts] when the I starts the word "International" so IELTS should read [jelts] instead.
Is it an exception?
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2answers
56 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. ...
0
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1answer
55 views
Pronunciation of final sound -ge [closed]
Can we ignore the final sound -ge as speaking the following sentence?
"Having true consciousness can change someone's life."
2
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1answer
68 views
How to pronounce Celtics?
In ESPN videos (1, 2), Boston Celtics was pronounced as /sel-tik/, but the dictionary says both /kel-tik/ and /sel-tik/ are acceptable pronunciations and clicking the sound icon on the dictionary ...
0
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1answer
124 views
Pronunciation of “eccentric”
I know the pronunciation of the word in its traditional sense. Lately I’ve been researching fitness largely via online videos, and whenever someone refers to motion transforming rotation into back-and-...
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1answer
46 views
Are acronyms pronounced as a one word or separately?
In English language there are innumerable Acronyms, but what I don’t know is that when do we pronounce an acronym as one word and when as separate Letters?
For Instance, UNICEF is pronounced /...
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2answers
71 views
how to pronounce “in that”
I am wondering how to pronounce "in that", where in that is a synonym for because. I have little understanding of reduction. Is it right to pronounce it /inə/?
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2answers
60 views
How can one tell apart the words queen and quean in a conversation?
I tried online voice synthesis and it sounds indistinguishable to my Russian ear: https://translate.google.com/#en/ru/quean%20vs%20queen
How am I supposed to pick up the difference if the context in ...
0
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1answer
79 views
Why do the pronunciations of “ion” given in the Longman Dictionary and the Cambridge Dictionary differ?
Ion
/ˈaɪən $ ˈaɪən, ˈaɪɑːn/
(LDOCE Online)
OR
Ion
UK /ˈaɪ.ɒn/ US /ˈaɪ.ɑːn/
(Cambridge Dictionary)
Why does the pronunciation of these two words differ in these two sites?
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2answers
66 views
Is there (and what if there is) a difference in saying nozzle and nuzzle? [closed]
To my Russian ear, it appears that both nozzle and nuzzle sound the same. Is it true? If no, what is the difference?
1
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1answer
55 views
Do native speakers pronounce 's' for the word 'corps'?
My dictionary lists the pronunciation of corps as [kɔːʳ], [kɔrz]. So, I am wondering if native speakers really pronounce the s sound?
6
votes
1answer
124 views
Anyone succeeded to teach/recognize the difference in L and R listening wise?
I'm Japanese clueless about the difference in between the sound of L and R in the most case.
I thought I should just give up, but it's too much obstacle to just ignore. (It's painful to remember ...
1
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1answer
47 views
“need to” pronounced something like /neit/ here, Why?
Watch this video, 00:16 .
How do you pronounce "need to"? /niːd tə/ or /neɪt/ I think the professor said something like /neɪt/ in that video.
The sentence:
You need to be aware of its difference ...
