Missing Pronunciation of English Words Part - 2

English Pronunciation Rules and How to Learn Them

Any non-native English speaker can tell you that learning English is not easy. Between complex grammar structures, confusing idioms, and difficult English pronunciation rules, English can be a lot to handle. Thankfully, there is a method to the madness.

Like any language, English relies on a set of rules that dictate the order and sound of words. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to learning all of these rules. It takes years of study and practice; and the earlier you start, the better.

So, to help you improve your English pronunciation, we have provided the following guide on English pronunciation rules and how to learn them. Let’s start with the basics.

Basic English Pronunciation Rules

Voice over

First, it is important to know the difference between pronouncing vowels and consonants. When you say the name of a consonant, the flow of air is temporarily stopped (which means that your tongue, lips, or vocal cords quickly block the sound). However, when you say the sound of a vowel, your mouth remains open, and the flow of air does not end until you stop speaking.

• Vowels – a, e, i, o, u, *y, *w
• Consonants – b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, *w, x, *y, z

*It is important to note that -w and -y can act as either vowels or consonants, depending on the combination of letters in each word. For example, the word “day” uses the vowel form of -y, while “yell” uses the consonant form. Similarly, “owe” uses the vowel form of -w, while “work” uses the consonant form.

Once you learn the name and basic sounds of each letter, you can start to put them together to form words. For example, the letters p, e, and t come together to form the word “pet.”

Vowel Combinations

Click below to listen to a recording of this passage.

Voice over

Usually, one vowel is surrounded by consonants in a word (example: pet). However, in many words, two vowels are put together, creating an entirely new sound. When this happens, the first letter of the combination is usually long, while the second letter is silent. Here are a few examples: ai (daily), ea (eat), ie (pie, outside), oa (boat), ay (say), oo (choose, book), and ee (feel).