Master the 42 Phonetic Sounds of American English

 

Mastering the phonetic sounds of English can feel like one of the hardest parts of learning the language—especially when it comes to American English.

The unique sounds can be tricky for non-native speakers to pick up, and you might feel like you're always guessing how to pronounce certain words. But don’t worry, you’re not alone!

Here’s the good news: once you start practicing these sounds, you’ll notice a huge difference in your pronunciation and even in how natural your American accent sounds. It’s not just about speaking English—it’s about speaking with clarity and confidence.

In this video, I’ll guide you through practicing the key phonetic sounds of American English. We’ll break them down step by step so that you can hear and repeat them until they become second nature.

Whether you're giving presentations or having casual conversations, mastering these sounds will make a big impact.

Ready to start? Let’s dive into the sounds that will help you take your English pronunciation to the next level!

(If you’re a member of my American Pronunciation Accelerator, check the bonus section to download your virtual flashcards.)

  1. /ɛ/ said / sɛd

  2. /i/ people / pi-pəl

  3. /ɪ/ gym / ʤɪm

  4. /aɪ/ island / aɪ-lənd

  5. /ɑ/ honest / ɑ-nəst

  6. /oʊ/ no / noʊ

  7. /ʊ/ could / kʊd

  8. /ʌ/ cut / kʌt

  9. /u/ suit / sut

  10. /ɔɪ/ choice / ʧɔɪs

  11. /aʊ/ about / ə-baʊt

  12. /ə/ America / ə-mɛ-rə-kə

  13. /æ/ laugh / læf

  14. /eɪ/ they / ðeɪ

  15. /ɜr/ early / ɜr-li

  16. /ɛr/ air / ɛr

  17. /ju/ cute / kjut

  18. /p/ pizza / pit-sə

  19. /b/ table / teɪ-bəl

  20. /t/ talk / tɔk

  21. /d/ idea / aɪ-di-ə

  22. /k/ vacation / veɪ-keɪ-ʃən

  23. /g/ yoga / joʊ-ɡə

  24. /f/ office / ɔ-fəs

  25. /v/ voice / vɔɪs

  26. /θ/ (unvoiced TH) think / θɪŋk

  27. /ð/ (voiced TH) this / ðɪs

  28. /s/ ice / aɪs

  29. /z/ eyes / aɪz

  30. /ʃ/ special / spɛ-ʃəl

  31. /ʒ/ decision / dɪ-sɪ-ʒən

  32. /h/ whole / hoʊl

  33. /m/ calm / kɑm

  34. /n/ phone / foʊn

  35. /ŋ/ bring / brɪŋ

  36. /l/ (light L) love / lʌv

  37. /ɫ/ (dark L) all / ɔɫ

  38. /r/ write / raɪt

  39. /w/ one / wʌn

  40. /j/ YouTube / ju-tub

  41. /ʤ/ educate / ɛ-ʤə-keɪt

  42. /ʧ/ future / fju-ʧər

Keep Learning

Loved these tips? Don’t stop now—learn how to pronounce the Voiced TH. Click here to dive in!

Also, sign up for your free, advanced pronunciation masterclass here.

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How to Pronounce Unvoiced TH in American English

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