American English Pronunciation Podcast

221: Compare ’unvoiced th’ to /f/, /s/, and /t/

How to pronounce words like "thin/fin," "mouth/mouse," and "both/boat." Perfect your English fricative sounds by never stopping the air from passing through your mouth.

220: The ’n-g’ spelling creates /ŋ/, as in the word ’song’

At the end of the word, the /ŋ/ doesn't need an additional /g/. The /g/ is potentially included mid-word. Transcripts available at pronuncian.com

219: /g+n/ as in ”signal” and ”ignore”

"Coarticulating" the /g/ and /n/ is the trick to fluent pronunciation of these two sounds. Don't release the /g/ before starting the /n/. Transcripts available on Pronun

218: Learn to hear vowels to learn to pronounce them

Test your ability to identify vowel sounds with this special listening quiz episode. Transcripts available on pronuncian.com.

217: Compare long e, short i, and short e /i, ɪ, ɛ/

The long e, short i, and short e /i, ɪ, ɛ/, are three front vowel sounds that can be practiced from a high, front tongue position to a mid-front position. Compare and con

216: The Cardinal Vowels--long e /i/, oo sound /u/, short o /ɑ/, and short a /æ/

All about that vowels diagram that shows the vowel sounds placed over a sort of square-like shape that’s bigger on the top than it is on the bottom. Transcripts at pronun

215: Adding ”bonus” information by using a low pitch

Use a low pitch to signal a spoken aside (like information that would be written in parentheses or between commas). Transcripts available at pronuncian.com.

214: Yes/No Pitch Patterns

Understand the rising and falling pitch patterns for yes/no questions and learn how to read emotion. Transcripts on pronuncian.com. Classes available from seattlelearni

213: Intonation of Wh- Questions

What are you *really* asking? Using a rising or a falling pitch on a wh- question means something different than using a rising pitch. Transcripts available at pronuncia

212: /r+ɚ/ “explore” into “explorer”

Adding /ɚ/ (schwa+r) to an /r/ can be difficult. Make it into two syllables, but don't add a vowel sound between. Learn how here! By Seattle Learning Academy. Transcripts

211: Compare /æ/ and /ɑ/ (’short a’ and ’short o’)

Words like 'hat' and 'hot' are important to distinguish. Full episode transcripts available at Pronuncian.com

210: ’-ue’ ending (unique, avenue, and rescue)

Is it silent, pronounced as 'long u' or 'oo sound'? Full episode transcripts at www.pronuncian.com/podcast.

209: The difference between /ə/ and /ʌ/: schwa and short u

What's up with /ə/ and /ʌ/ in words like 'custom' /ˈkʌs təm/? Full episode transcripts at www.pronuncian.com/podcast.

208: Cone/corn, coat/court

Practice the difference between the or sound and the long o sound. Full episode transcripts at www.pronuncian.com/podcast.

207: Why is ’quarter’ so hard to say?

Rhyming with 'shorter' and 'border,' this is a quirky word. Full episode transcripts at www.pronuncian.com/podcast.

206: I like/I’d like... bacon!

Rhythm and linking from /d/. Full episode transcripts at www.pronuncian.com/podcast.

205: Dealing with ’o-u-g-h’

No English spelling could be more confusing. Full episode transcripts at www.pronuncian.com/podcast.

204: How ’have to’ becomes ’hafta’

Informal contractions for fluency! Full episode transcripts at www.pronuncian.com/podcast.

203: When /t/ sounds like /d/ during linking: alveolar stop

Most recognize the /d/ in the pronunciation of 'little' but how about in 'out_of'? Full episode transcripts at www.pronuncian.com/podcast.

202: How similar are /n/ and /l/?

Even small differences in vocal tract profiles can make a big difference. Full episode transcripts at www.pronuncian.com/podcast.