English pronunciation is difficult when the spelling suggests a sound that the word does not contain, or when two familiar letters represent different sounds. The solution is to listen for a specific feature, such as a silent letter, vowel or stressed syllable. This guide uses common dictionary-style British pronunciations as examples, while recognising that other standard accents may sound different.
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The two sounds written as th
The th in think is /θ/, while the th in this is /ð/. For both sounds, bring the tip of your tongue lightly to or between your front teeth and let air pass. The key difference is voicing: /ð/ uses vocal-cord vibration; /θ/ does not.
Place a hand lightly on your throat as you alternate a prolonged /θ/ and /ð/. You should feel more vibration with /ð/. Then compare thin and then, listening to the opening sound rather than trying to say the words quickly.
| Sound | Words to practise | Short sentence |
|---|---|---|
| /θ/ | think, three, both | I think both tickets are here. |
| /ð/ | this, those, other | Those are the other books. |
The sounds /t/, /d/, /s/ and /z/ are useful comparisons, but they are not the same as these th sounds in the dictionary model. Listen to think and this before recording your own version. The aim is intelligible speech, not removing every feature of your accent.
Words with silent letters
The symbols between slashes represent sounds, not spelling. The mark /ˈ/ comes immediately before the stressed syllable, and a dot can mark a syllable boundary. Select the word links below to compare dictionary audio with your pronunciation.
| Word and audio | Example IPA | What to notice |
|---|---|---|
| debt | /det/ | The b is silent. |
| receipt | /rɪˈsiːt/ | The p is silent; stress the second syllable. |
| island | /ˈaɪ.lənd/ | The s is silent. |
| Wednesday | /ˈwenz.deɪ/ | The first d is not pronounced in this common form. |
| climb | /klaɪm/ | The final b is silent. |
| queue | /kjuː/ | One syllable, with the same sound as the letter Q. |
| cupboard | /ˈkʌb.əd/ | Do not pronounce it as the two full words cup and board. |
Why ough does not have one sound
Words that look similar do not always rhyme. Learn though, through, thought and tough as separate sound patterns. Guessing from the letters alone can produce a completely different word.
| Word | Example British IPA | Practice sentence |
|---|---|---|
| though | /ðəʊ/ | It was useful, though it took time. |
| through | /θruː/ | We walked through the garden. |
| thought | /θɔːt/ | I thought you were at home. |
| tough | /tʌf/ | The last question was tough. |
| enough | /ɪˈnʌf/ | Have we got enough chairs? |
Tough and the final syllable of enough share /ʌf/ in this model. Though has no final /f/ or /t/, and through ends in /uː/. American dictionary pronunciations use a different vowel symbol for some words, including though and thought; choose one audio model for each practice session.
Vowels: practise a meaningful contrast
Compare ship /ʃɪp/ with sheep /ʃiːp/, and full /fʊl/ with fool /fuːl/. The differences involve vowel quality as well as typical length. Simply stretching the first vowel is not a reliable way to make the second one.
Listen to one pair, repeat each word, and then put it in a sentence: “The ship is leaving” and “The sheep are sleeping.” Ask a partner which word they heard without showing them your notes. If they cannot tell, return to the dictionary recording and focus on that one contrast.
Word stress can change meaning
Some words shift their stress when their grammatical use changes. In a common pronunciation, the noun record begins with the stressed syllable, while the verb record has stress on the second syllable. This does not mean every noun and verb pair follows that rule.
Learner: Can I record our conversation?
Teacher: Yes. Keep a record of the words you practise.
Learner: So the same spelling has a different stress?
Teacher: In this pair, yes. Listen to how I say each sentence.
A focused five-minute practice routine
Choose three words you need this week and listen to each twice. Identify one difficulty in each word, then repeat it slowly inside a short phrase. Record the phrases and compare them with the model, checking the chosen feature rather than every detail of your speech.
Finally, say the phrases at a comfortable conversational speed. If a sound becomes unclear, slow down again. Tongue twisters can be enjoyable, but speed is not evidence of accurate or understandable pronunciation.
Check what you have learned
- Which starts with /ð/: think or those?
- Which letter is silent in receipt?
- Which rhymes with rough in the model used here: though or tough?
- How many syllables does queue have?
- Does making /ɪ/ longer always produce /iː/?
- In “Please record the answer,” is record a noun or a verb?
Answers
1. Those starts with the voiced sound. 2. P is silent. 3. Tough shares the /ʌf/ ending with rough. 4. One. 5. No: vowel quality matters too. 6. A verb, normally stressed on the second syllable.
Use Cambridge’s pronunciation recordings to compare British and American models. Keep a small personal list of words that cause misunderstandings, and revisit them in sentences rather than practising an unrelated list every day.
