A collection of free resources designed to help you speak English better. 

What is the /sw/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /sw/ sound:

• swim
• swan
• sweet
• answer
• upswell
• aswoon

If you need more help articulating the /sw/ sound, check out this video to learn the correct tongue and mouth placement.

Practicing the /sw/ Sound...

What is the /st/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /st/ sound:

• stop
• stay
• sister
• rustic
• post
• cast

According to Baruch College's Tools for Clear Speech, the /st/ sound is made by doing the following:

"This cluster is a combination of the /s/ and /t/ sounds....

What is the /br/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /br/ sound:

• bread
• broad
• brush
• cobra
• hybrid
• abrupt

If you need more help articulating the /br/ sound, check out this video to learn the correct tongue and mouth placement.

Practicing the /br/ Sound

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What is the /bl/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /bl/ Sound:

• blue
• blow
• tablet
• problem
• trouble
• table

If you need more help articulating the /bl/ Sound, check out this video to learn the correct tongue and mouth placement.

Practicing the /bl/ Sound

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What is the /θ/ (unvoiced) Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /θ/ sound:

• think
• thought
• anything
• authority
• bath
• breath

According to Baruch College's Tools for Clear Speech, the /θ/ sound is made by doing the following:

"To make /θ/, place...

What is the /ð/ (voiced) Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /ð/ sound:

• this
• that
• another
• weather
• with
• breathe

According to Baruch College's Tools for Clear Speech, the /ð/ sound is made by doing the following:

"To make /ð/, place the tip of your...

What is the /tʃ/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /tʃ/ sound:

• chin
• child
• crunchy
• catcher
• much
• bench

According to Baruch College's Tools for Clear Speech, the /tʃ/ sound is made by doing the following:

"Place the tip of your tongue just behind the hard...

What is the /ʃ/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /ʃ/ sound:

• show
• shop
• ocean
• addition
• fish
• rush

According to Baruch College's Tools for Clear Speech, the /ʃ/ sound is made by doing the following:

"To make /ʃ/, place the tip of your tongue at the front...

What is the /ŋ/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /ŋ/ sound:

• finger
• English
• anger
• wing
• ring
• song

According to Baruch College's Tools for Clear Speech, the /ŋ/ sound is made by doing the following:

"Lift the back of your tongue (like you’re making a...

What is the /ʒ/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /ʒ/ sound:

• genre
• usually
• casual
• beige
• collage

According to Baruch College's Tools for Clear Speech, the /ʒ/ sound is made by doing the following:

"To make /ʒ/, place the tip of your tongue at the front...

What is the /ʊ/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /ʊ/ sound:

• put
• full
• pull
• push
• bush

According to Baruch College's Tools for Clear Speech, the /ʊ/ sound is made by doing the following:

"/ʊ/ is a high, back, lax vowel. To make it, your tongue should be lifted...

What is the /eə (ɛr)/ Sound?

First, let's look at a few examples of words with the English /ɛr/ sound:

• air
• dairy
• fairly
• hair
• where
• pair
• affair

According to Sounds American, the /ɛr/ sound is made by doing the following:

"To pronounce the /ɛr/ sound correctly, blend the /ɛ/ and /r/...