Pronunciation
The way words and sounds are spoken, including individual sounds, stress, rhythm, and intonation.
In-Depth Explanation
Pronunciation encompasses all aspects of how you produce speech sounds. Good pronunciation ensures you're understood. Components of pronunciation: - Individual sounds (phonemes): vowels, consonants - Word stress: which syllable to emphasize - Sentence stress: which words to emphasize - Intonation: the melody of speech - Connected speech: how sounds link together - Rhythm: the timing pattern of speech Common pronunciation challenges for Indian speakers: - Th sounds (/θ/ and /ð/): think, this - V vs W: very, west - Silent letters: knife, psychology - Word stress patterns: photograph vs photography - Vowel length: ship vs sheep Clear pronunciation > perfect pronunciation. The goal is being understood, not sounding native.
Usage Examples
His pronunciation of "th" sounds has improved significantly.
She practiced pronunciation using minimal pairs.
Good pronunciation helps avoid misunderstandings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I improve my English pronunciation?
Is it too late to improve my pronunciation as an adult?
What is connected speech and why does it matter?
Was this definition helpful?
Ready to Improve Your English Speaking?
Practice conversations with our AI speaking partner and get instant feedback on your pronunciation and fluency.
AI-powered conversations
Instant feedback
Track your progress
Related Terms
Back to Glossary