Lesson 5 · Lesson guide
Common English Sounds
Hello, my dear student!
Hello, my dear student!
English has some sounds that we don’t have in Uzbek, and some pairs of sounds that are easy to mix up. People usually understand you anyway, but sometimes the word changes: three becomes tree, ship becomes sheep, and one man becomes two men!
Today we train your ears first and your mouth second. In IELTS Listening you must hear small differences, for example thirteen or thirty. In IELTS Speaking, pronunciation is one of the four things the examiner listens for, so clear sounds really help your band.
See you in the exercises,Your teacher
Your browser has no English voice, so the listen buttons are hidden. Everything is written on the page.
Your mouth makes the sound
Read how to make each sound, then tap the examples and copy them.
/θ/ · no voice
TH as in “think”
Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and blow air. There is no voice. It is not s and not t.
- thank you(rahmat)
- Thursday(payshanba)
- bath(vanna)
/ð/ · with voice
TH as in “this”
The tongue is in the same place, but now use your voice: the sound buzzes. It is in many small words: the, this, that, they, there.
- this book(bu kitob)
- my brother(akam / ukam)
- over there(ana u yerda)
/w/
W as in “water”
Make your lips small and round, like for a kiss, then open them. Your teeth don’t touch your lip. Careful: “one” starts with this sound too!
- window(deraza)
- one(bir)
- sandwich(sendvich)
/v/
V as in “very”
Put your top teeth on your bottom lip and use your voice. Your lips are not round.
- village(qishloq)
- river(daryo)
- five(besh)
/ɪ/ and /iː/
Short i, long ee
The sound in “ship” is short and relaxed. The sound in “sheep” is long, and your lips smile. The length changes the word!
- fit, feet
- hill, heel
/æ/ and /e/
A in “man”, E in “men”
For “man”, open your mouth wide, as if you are surprised. For “men”, open it only a little. One man, two men: the sound shows the plural.
- had, head
- bag, beg
Remember!
Listen first, then copy. Your ears teach your mouth.
Pairs that change the meaning
Tap each pair and listen to the difference.
three, tree
3 / 🌳
think, sink
🤔 / a kitchen sink
they, day
those people / Monday is a day
west, vest
⬅️ / a shirt with no sleeves
ship, sheep
🚢 / 🐑
live, leave
have your home / go away
man, men
one / two or more
thirteen, thirty
13 / 30
A phone call, like IELTS Listening
Aziz gives his address. Listen for th, w and v.
- Receptionist
Can I have your address, please?
- Aziz
Yes. It’s thirty-three West Street.
- Receptionist
Sorry, is that thirteen or thirty-three?
- Aziz
Thirty-three. Three, three.
- Receptionist
And West with a W?
- Aziz
Yes, W-E-S-T. Thank you!
IELTS Listening Section 1 is often a call like this: numbers, names and spelling. One wrong sound, and the answer is wrong.
Mistakes I hear every day
Not: I sink so.Say: I think so.
“Sink” means to go down under water. Put your tongue between your teeth: think.
Not: Wery good!Say: Very good!
V: top teeth on your bottom lip. Your lips are not round.
Not: I vant some water.Say: I want some water.
W: round lips, and the teeth don’t touch your lip.
Not: There are two man in the room.Say: There are two men in the room.
One man, two men. The vowel sound tells the listener “more than one”.
Not: I want to leave in London.Say: I want to live in London.
Live (short i) = to have your home there. Leave (long ee) = to go away.
Check yourself
Where is your tongue for TH?
What is the difference between W and V?
Which word is an animal: ship or sheep?
One man, two …?
Now it’s your turn!
6 short parts, each a little harder than the one before. Take your time: mistakes are how we learn.
— Your teacher