Discover which areas of English pronunciation are especially important for speakers of your first language.
Your first language influences the sounds, rhythm and speech patterns that feel natural to you. Choose your language below to explore English pronunciation guides and exercises designed around those differences.
Every language has its own sound system, rhythm, stress patterns and rules for combining sounds. When you learn English, you naturally interpret new sounds through the sound system you already know.
Some English sounds may be almost identical to sounds in your first language. Others may be completely new. Two sounds that English treats as different may even sound like the same sound to you at first. Language-specific practice doesn’t assume every learner has the same problems – it helps you focus your practice where it is most useful.
Contrasts and patterns that are especially relevant for German speakers.
English sounds, stress and rhythm, with attention to contrasts that matter for Spanish speakers.
Choose your language. Each guide focuses on the sounds and patterns that differ most from your first language.
Your first language can help you identify useful areas of focus – but every speaker is different.
Compare
Notice how English differs from your first language.
Listen
Learn to hear important English sound contrasts.
Practise
Focus on the sounds and patterns you actually need.
Personalise
Build your own pronunciation priorities over time.
Your accent is not created only by vowels and consonants. Word stress, sentence rhythm, reduction, linking and intonation are just as important.
Which syllables carry the main stress, and how unstressed syllables become weaker.
How important words stand out and weaker words create English rhythm.
How words link, reduce and change when they are spoken naturally together.
How rising and falling pitch communicates meaning, attitude and emotion.
Compare. Notice. Practise. Personalise.
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