Free English pronunciation guide

English pronunciation, made clear

Learn the 44 sounds of English with the IPA, where to put the stress, how words link together in real speech, and the sounds and words learners mix up most. Every example has audio.

Your learning path

Six lessons, from single sounds to words to whole sentences. Follow them in order, or jump to the one you need.

Lesson 1The IPA ChartThe English IPA chart explained: all 44 sounds (20 vowels and 24 consonants) with example words, audio, and how to read the symbols in a dictionary.8 min read
Lesson 2Minimal PairsPractise the English sounds learners mix up most, such as ship and sheep, think and sink, light and right, with mouth tips and audio for every pair.8 min read
Lesson 3Word StressWhere to stress English words: rules for two-syllable nouns and verbs, suffixes like -tion and -ic, compound words and sentence stress, with audio.9 min read
Lesson 4-ed and -s EndingsThe three ways to say -ed (/t/, /d/, /ɪd/) and -s (/s/, /z/, /ɪz/), the voiced and voiceless rule behind them, exceptions like naked, and audio examples.7 min read
Lesson 5Linking & Connected SpeechWhy native speakers sound fast: linking consonants to vowels, the /w/, /j/ and /r/ links, dropped sounds, sounds that change, and weak forms, with audio.10 min read
Lesson 6Commonly Mispronounced WordsEnglish words learners often get wrong, with IPA, audio and a guide: silent letters (Wednesday, often), lost syllables (comfortable) and stress traps.9 min read

The 44 sounds of English at a glance

Each symbol stands for one sound. Tap the speaker to hear the example word.

Full IPA chart

Short vowels (7)

/ɪ/sit
/e/bed
/æ/cat
/ʌ/cup
/ɒ/hot
/ʊ/book
/ə/about

Long vowels (5)

/iː/see
/ɑː/car
/ɔː/door
/uː/blue
/ɜː/bird

Diphthongs (8)

/eɪ/day
/aɪ/my
/ɔɪ/boy
/aʊ/now
/əʊ/go
/ɪə/near
/eə/hair
/ʊə/tour

Consonants (24)

/p/pen
/b/bad
/t/tea
/d/dog
/k/cat
/ɡ/get
/f/fish
/v/van
/θ/think
/ð/this
/s/sun
/z/zoo
/ʃ/she
/ʒ/vision
/tʃ/chair
/dʒ/jam
/h/hat
/m/man
/n/no
/ŋ/sing
/l/leg
/r/red
/w/wet
/j/yes

How to improve your pronunciation

Listen before you speak
You cannot say a difference you cannot hear. Train your ear with minimal pairs first.
Read the IPA
Check the transcription and the stress mark of every new word, not only its meaning.
Shadow native speech
Play a short clip, pause, and repeat it straight away with the same rhythm and linking.
How to shadow with audiobooks
Record yourself
Compare your recording with the original. You will hear mistakes you never notice while speaking.

Frequently asked questions

How can I improve my English pronunciation?

Learn to read the IPA so you can check any word in a dictionary, practise the sounds you confuse with minimal pairs, learn the stress of every new word, and shadow short clips of native speech, repeating straight after the speaker and recording yourself.

Do I need to learn the IPA?

It is not required, but it is the quickest way to become independent. English spelling does not show pronunciation reliably, and every learner's dictionary uses IPA, so knowing the 44 symbols lets you pronounce any new word correctly.

Should I learn British or American pronunciation?

Both are correct and widely understood. Choose the accent you hear most and stay consistent. This guide uses British IPA symbols and notes the main American differences.

What matters most for being understood?

Word stress, clear vowel length and the final sounds of words. Listeners recognise words by their stress pattern first, so a wrongly stressed word is often harder to understand than one slightly wrong sound.