Jennifer Tarle's Blog, page 25

How to Pronounce WRECK, REEK, WREAK – American English Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the words WRECK, REEK, and WREAK with this American English Pronunciation Lesson. WREAK AND REEK are homophones and are pronounced the same way.

 

 

Definitions:

REEK means a strong unpleasant odor.

WREAK means to cause damage.

WRECK means to ruin something.

Pronunciations:

Wreak and reek are pronounced the same: r-long e-k or /rik/ and rhyme with geek, leak, meek, peak, seek.

Wreck is pronounced r-short e-k /rɛk/ and rhymes with heck, neck, peck.

 

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How to Pronounce REEK and WREAK – American English Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the word absolutely with this American English Pronunciation Lesson.

Definitions:

REEK means a strong unpleasant odor.

WREAK means to cause damage.

Pronunciations:

Reek is pronounced r-long e-k or /rik/ and rhymes with geek, leak, meek, peak, seek.

Wreak is pronounced r-short e-k /rɛk/ and rhymes with heck, neck, peck.

Sentence:

The ship wreak survivor was racked with pain.

The ally will reek from rotting food.

Transcript:

Hello everyone this is Jennifer with Tarle speech with your question of the week.

The question today is how do I say the word reek which is a strong unpleasant odor and wreck which means to cause damage.

So we have two words reek and wreak.

Let’s talk about spelling a little bit so when we have w r together at the beginning of the word we just say an r sound r.

So we see this in the word write and in this word wreck.

Another thing that I think confuses people here is that for the two vowels together in the middle of the word we typically say the first vowel name and make that long like in reek and then the second one is silent. We also see this e a pattern in the words in word like meat and we say a long e this word.

Wreak is an exception and we are going to say a short e here.

So let’s take a look at both of these words and how we pronounce them. So for word number one reek you’re going to start with that r sound er to say this sound I tell my students square tense lips. The reason is, is because some of my students pucker too much or smile too much and then that makes the sound incorrect. So you want square tense lips the tip of your tongue is either pointed down or flipped back the key is is that it is not touching the teeth, so the tongue never touches the teeth for an r sound in english, the back of the tongue is going to be pulled high up. r r r

For reek we’re going to move to that long e sound by smiling that will make your tongue nice and high and flat. Then we are going to end with the k to do this tip of the tongue is down back is pulled way high up and the air puffs out k

r ee k
reek
reek
reek reek reek

Now for the word wreak we’re going to start with that r sound. Then we’re going to move to the short e sound the eh sound. So for the long e e you’re smiling you’re going to open your mouth more and relax your lips so again we’re going from that high e relax your lips eh eh eh

When you relax your lips your mouth opens a bit more, the tip of the tongue is between the top and the bottom teeth, it’s just peeking out there and we’re going to let that air puff out eh eh eh

And then end with that k. Let’s put it all together:
wreak wreak wreak wreak

So we have reek wreak reek wreak
reek reek reek
you found this helpful we’d love a like a share and subscribe thanks everyone!

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How to Pronounce LESSON & LESSEN – American English Homophone Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the words LESSON & LESSEN with this American English Pronunciation Lesson.

Pronunciation:

These words are homophones and are pronounced exactly the same way: /lɛsən/ or L-short e-S-short u-N.

You can think of it as two syllables: LE-SUN, LE-SIN, or LE-SEN.  Just be sure that syllable number 2 is unstressed meaning it is shorter, softer, and lower in pitch.

Definitions:

LESSON is period of teaching.

LESSEN means to diminish.

Sentence:

She drank extra coffee to lessen her fatigue during the long lesson.

Transcript:

Hello everyone it’s Jennifer with your two for Tuesday homophone lesson. These words are pronounced exactly the same way.

We have the word
lesson which is a period of teaching
and lesson meaning to diminish

So to say these words correctly we have two beats: le sun lesson

Now I do have written here i’m going to teach this as sun. I think it’s easy to remember because we see the sun in the sky; however, you can pronounce it as sin or sen. The key is for that second syllable is, the second syllable is unstressed so that vowel must be very short and unstressed.

All right so let’s start with the le syllable. To do this touch the tip of your tongue to the back of your top front teeth and then you’re going to pull it down. Mouth is going to continue to stay open and then you’re going to see the tip of your tongue between your top and your bottom teeth.

Next you’re going to move to the sun and to do this tip of the tongue is either pointed down or just behind the top front teeth air continues to move out of your mouth. Add the short uh just a super relaxed mouth. And then end with the n by touching the tip of the tongue to the back of the top front teeth.

Let’s put that together:

lesson lessen
lesson lessen
lesson lessen

And now for a sentence:

She drank extra coffee to lessen her fatigue during the long lesson.

Give it a try I know people are going to notice the difference. If you found this helpful please share this with your friends and give us a like. Don’t forget to subscribe and check out our products and classes at Tarle speech dot com.

Thanks everyone have a great week!

The post How to Pronounce LESSON & LESSEN – American English Homophone Pronunciation Lesson appeared first on Tarle Speech.

How to Pronounce ORDINARY, ORDINARILY, EXTRAORDINARY, EXTRAORDINARILY – English Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the words ORDINARY, ORDINARILY, EXTRAORDINARY, EXTRAORDINARILY with this American English Pronunciation Lesson.

Definitions:

Ordinary means basic

Ordinarily means usually

Extraordinary or extraordinarily means extra special or unusual

Pronunciation:

Ordinary is pronounced with four syllables: or-duh-nair-ee

Ordinarily is pronounced with five syllables: or-duh-nair-uh-lee

Extraordinary is pronounced with five syllables: ek-stror-din-air-ee

Extraordinarily is pronounced with six syllables: ek-stror-din-air-uh-lee

/ɔrdənɛri, ɔrdənɛrəli,ɛkˌstrɔrdənɛri, ɛkstrɔrdənɛrəli/

Sentence:

The student comment ordinary was easy but pronouncing ordinarily, extraordinary, and extraordinarily took some practice.

Transcript:

Hello everyone it is Jennifer from Tarle speech with your question of the week. Our question of today is how do I say the word ordinary which is basic , and ordinarily which is usually, and extraordinary or extraordinarily which means extra special or very unusual.

So let’s take a look at our words lots of syllables um the big idea with the lesson today is that we are going to think about as words get longer our vowel sounds have to get shorter and quicker. So again as words get longer our vowel sounds get shorter and quicker and we are more likely to have a schwa sound that uh sound in a word in longer words.

So let’s look at word number one ordinary.

or duh nair ee or duh nair ee ordinary ordinary ordinary

So we have four beats in ordinary.

Now we are going to add an extra beat when we add that lee suffix and so you can see we’re actually going to have one more schwa sound in that word because we have to add another beat to that word so we have to make some of the vowels shorter.

So we have or da nair uh lee or da nair uh lee

ordinarily ordinarily ordinarily s

So let’s listen to those first two words

ordinary ordinarily
ordinary ordinarily

So that second word sounds a little bit faster and that’s because we have some shorter beats especially that schwa syllable .

Now when we have extraordinary we’re going to change how we say that word a little bit we’re going to start with that ek stror din air e extraor dinairee

extraordinary extraordinary extraordinary

Right so we have five syllables there.

We’re going to add another syllable and we’re going to have six syllables and the last word extraordinarily. So we’re going to have another schwa in there
eks tro din air uh lee
eks tro din air uh lee

extraordinarily extraordinarily

So we have for this last word extraordinarily eks tro din air uh lee

extraordinaire uh-li

extraordinarily extraordinarily extraordinarily

Let’s listen to those last two words
extraordinary extraordinarily
extraordinary extraordinarily

And let’s listen to them all and how those beats get faster as the word gets longer

ordinary ordinarily extraordinary extraordinarily
ordinary ordinarily extraordinary extraordinarily

And now for a sentence
The student commented ordinary was easy but pronouncing ordinarily, extraordinary, and extraordinarily took some practice.

So take some time for some practice and give it a try people will notice the difference if you found this helpful we’d love a like a share and a subscribe don’t forget to check out our products on google play and iTunes and our class options at Tarle speed thanks everyone!

The post How to Pronounce ORDINARY, ORDINARILY, EXTRAORDINARY, EXTRAORDINARILY – English Pronunciation Lesson appeared first on Tarle Speech.

How to Pronounce PARISH & PERISH – American English Homophone Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the words PARISH & PERISH with this American English Pronunciation Lesson.

Pronunciation:

These words are homophones and are pronounced exactly the same way:

P-AIR-short I-SH or /pɛrɪʃ/

two syllables: PAIR-ISH

Definitions:

PARISH is a religious district.

PERISH to ruin or die.

Sentence:

The parish priest will visit the congregation and quickly deliver the food so it will not perish.

Transcript:

Hi there Jennifer from Tarle speech with your two for Tuesday.
Two words that are pronounced exactly the same way with different spellings and different meanings.

So we have:
parish a religious district typically in christianity
and perish to ruin or die

So to say these words correctly two beats pair ish

Let’s start with pair, syllable one, to say this you’re going to start with the p sound just let your lips press together and then open and the air puffs out.

Move to the air vowel to do this you’re going to open your mouth in a wide circle tip of your tongue is really low back of the tongue is pulled up. You are going to close your mouth to square tense lips. The tip of your tongue can either stay in the same pot spot pointing down or it can flip back it’s up to you and personal preference.

air air

I personally keep the tip of my tongue in the same spot for that whole air vowel.

pair

Then we’re going to end with ish. To do this your mouth is slightly open relaxed lips and your tongue is behind your top front teeth. Then pucker your lips for the shh

ish ish ish

Let’s put it all together

pair ish pair-ish
perish parish
perish parish
perish perish

And now for a sentence:
The parish priest will visit the congregation and quickly deliver the food so it will not perish.

Give it a try people are going to notice the difference!

If you found this helpful we’d love a like and a share with your friends, if you need more help we’ve got products and classes and those are all listed at Tarle speech dot com.

Thank you so much everyone have an amazing week!

The post How to Pronounce PARISH & PERISH – American English Homophone Pronunciation Lesson appeared first on Tarle Speech.

How to Pronounce ON, OWN, ONLY – American English Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the word absolutely with this American English Pronunciation Lesson.

Definitions:

Absolutely means totally or without limitations.

Pronunciation options:

Absolutely is pronounced with four syllables:

ab-so-lewt-lee or /æb soʊ lutl i/

ab-suh-lewt-lee or /æb sə lut li/

Sentence:

Absolutely, I plan to have a wonderful week. You should absolutely do the same!

Transcript:

Hi everyone it’s Jennifer from Tarle speech with your question of the week. Today’s question is how do I say the word absolutely which means totally or without limitation.

Here’s the word absolutely and we have two choices today. I think this word gets confusing for some people because oftentimes people will stress this word and then they will make all of the vowels longer so you might be hearing two things.

So we can say ab so lewt lee or absa lewt lee so this is going to be the long o and this is going to be the short uh the schwa.

So to say this word again we can start with ab and to do that mouth open wide for that ah tongue tip is low back of the tongue is pulled up and then close the mouth for the b ab

We’re gonna skip all the way over here to the lewt just because it’s the same in both words to say that syllable you’re going to touch the tip of your tongue to the back of your top front teeth lll pucker for the ew and then touch the tip of the tongue to the back of the top front teeth for the t lewt.

And then end with the lee and to do that touch the tip of your tongue to the back of your top front teeth and then smile for that long e lee.

Now for the so versus the sa going to start both of those with the s tip of the tongue is either down or behind the top front teeth it’s not touching air continues to move out.

If you choose to say so you’re just going to round your lips for that long o if you choose to say the suh, the unstressed uh sound, just going to relax your mouth.

So let’s give those both a try let’s start with the so version number one
ab so lewt lee
absolutely absolutely

you can also say ab suh lewt lee
absa lutely
absolutely absolutely absolutely absolutely absolutely

And let’s give it a try in a sentence:

Absolutely I plan to have a wonderful week. You should absolutely do the same!

So give it a try I know people are going to notice the difference if you found this helpful please share us with a friend check out our products on google play and iTunes and our classes at Tarle speech thanks everyone have a great weekend!

The post How to Pronounce ON, OWN, ONLY – American English Pronunciation Lesson appeared first on Tarle Speech.

How to Pronounce SUITE & SWEET – American English Homophone Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the words SUITE & SWEET with this American English Pronunciation Lesson. These words are homophones and are pronounced exactly the same way: S-W-long E-T or /swit/.

Definitions:

SUITE is a set of rooms.

SWEET means pleasant or not bitter or salty.

Sentence:

In the afternoon, the hotel suite swerved a sweet and savory snack.

Transcript:

Hey everyone it’s jennifer from Tarle speech with your two for Tuesday homophone lesson. These words are pronounced exactly the same way they just have different spellings and different meanings.

Our words are suite a set of rooms and sweet which means pleasant and not bitter or not salty.

So to say these words correctly we’re going to start with that s ssss : tip of the tongue is behind the top front teeth or pointing down air keeps moving out.

Move to that w by puckering and then pull the lips back and smile for that long e. Tongue is high and flat and then touch the tip of the tongue to the back of the top front teeth t.

sweet suite sweet suite sweet suite sweet

And just a little tip I do pucker my lips a little bit to get started for this word and that’s because you have to move to such a pucker for the w. So again it kind of looks like this

sweet suite sweet

So I’m puckering a little bit then really puckering for that w and then pulling them back for that long e and t.

Let’s give it one more try
sweet suite sweet

And now for a sentence:
In the afternoon the hotel suite served a sweet and savory snack.

Give it a try I know people are going to notice the difference!

If you found this helpful please share us with your friends and give us a like don’t forget to subscribe check out all of our products and class options at Tarle speech.

Thanks everyone have a great week!

The post How to Pronounce SUITE & SWEET – American English Homophone Pronunciation Lesson appeared first on Tarle Speech.

How to Pronounce CLOSE, CLOSES, CLOSED, CLOSING, CLOTHES – American English Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the words close, closed, closes, closing, clothes with this American English Pronunciation Lesson.

Definitions:

Close means to shut.

Close and clothes are homophones and are pronounced the same way: K-L-O-Z or /kloʊz/.

Close is pronounced with one syllable: kloz or /kloʊz/.

Closed is pronounced with one syllable: kloz or /kloʊzd/.

Closes is pronounced with two syllables: kloz-iz or /kloʊzɪz/

Closing is pronounced with two syllables: kloz-ing or /kloʊzɪŋ/

This may be helpful:

How to Pronounce CLOTHES (CLOSE) 

Sentences:

Close the door while I put on my new clothes.

My second grade teacher always closed the door. If you don’t close the close, she would ask, were you born in a barn.

Who closed the door in your house the most?

 

Transcript:

Hello everyone it is Jennifer with Tarle speech with your question of the week. Our word today is close which is to shut and some of the variations of that word. So here is our word close.

So let’s just look at the word itself to say close correctly we are going to start with that k sound – the tip of your tongue is going to be low in your mouth and the back of your tongue is pulled up and the air just puffs out.

Then we’re going to move to the l sound – tip of the tongue is touching the back of the top front teeth. What you want to do for this is you want to move quickly and you do not want to add a vowel sound between these two sounds you do not want to say KA L

We do not want that you want to say kl kl kl. So how I do that is my mouth stays in relatively the same place and I move my tongue only kl kl.

Then we’re going to move to the long o to do this you’re going to open your mouth and then pucker o. That is going to move your tongue from low in your mouth to a little bit higher O and again think about your tongue just sort of going along for the ride it’s going to move up as you move from the open mouth to the pucker o.

Then we’re going to end with the z sound z to do this your tongue is either behind your top front teeth or pointing down it is not touching your teeth that allows the air to keep moving out of your mouth and your voice box is on and vibrating let’s put it all together

close close close close close

Now what do we do when we add an ed, an s, or an i n g? When you add the e d all we’re going to do is just add one more sound that d sound and to do that we’re going to say the z z then we’re going to touch the tip of the tongue to the back of the top front teeth for that d

closed closed

And yes your tongue will pop down a little bit after you say that d sound

closed closed

Now for closes and closing we need to add a second beat or a second syllable to the word. So to say closes we’re going to think about adding the word is and to do that we’re just going to add the short ih sound mouth is just opened a tiny bit and the tongue is behind the top front teeth that’s not touching

is is
closes closes closes closes

And then for close-ing again short i sound your mouth is slightly open. Tongue is high and flat just behind those top front teeth and then you are going to move the tongue down to the bottom of the mouth back of the tongue is pulled way high up and the air is going to move out of your nose for the ng ng

closing closing closing closing closing

So again we have

close closed closes and closing
close closed closes closing

Now I do have one little bonus tip for all of you I actually have a video for the this word on my site already and that is the word clothes, like what we wear every day, and we have c-l-o-t-h-e-s. Quick tip you don’t even have to say that th sound you can just say the z and that’s because the z is just really strong here and overtakes that th. So again we can say close as in shut and clothes as in what we wear the exact same way as kloz

close clothes close

So close the door while I put on my new clothes.

All right and then let’s do a sentence for these words as well:

My second grade teacher always closed the door, if you don’t close the door, she would ask, were you born in a barn? Who closes the door in your house the most?

Give it a try i know people are going to notice the difference if you found this helpful we’d love a like a share and a subscribe check out our products on google play iTunes and our class options at Tarle speech thanks everyone!

The post How to Pronounce CLOSE, CLOSES, CLOSED, CLOSING, CLOTHES – American English Pronunciation Lesson appeared first on Tarle Speech.

How to Pronounce VAIN, VANE, VEIN – American English Homophone Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the words VAIN, VANE, & VEIN with this American English Pronunciation Lesson. These words are homophones and are pronounced exactly the same way: V-long E-N or /veɪn/

Definitions:

VAIN means pointless or a conceited person.

VANE a blade pushed by the wind.

VEIN is a tube that circulates blood.

Sentence:

The vain man’s blood boiled in his veins when he noticed his friend was interested in the weather vane.

Transcript:

Hello everyone it’s Jennifer from Tarle speech with your two for Tuesday. Actually today we have a three for Tuesday! This is a homophone lesson – the three words have different spellings different meanings but they are pronounced exactly the same way. Our words today are vain which means pointless or a conceited person, vane a blade pushed by the wind, and vein tubes that circulate blood. These words again are pronounced exactly the same way!

To say these words correctly we’re going to start with that v sound. To do this your lips are open, you are gently biting the inside or the outside of your bottom lip, just make sure that the air keeps moving out of your mouth, if you close your mouth, it will sound like a b and we do not want that. Another tip is make sure that your lips are pulled back almost like you’re smiling this is because if you make another mistake that I hear a lot of my clients do is that you pucker your lips ww and then you say a w so we wanna vvvv not a b not a w we want v v v.

Next move to that long a to do this you’re going to open your mouth wide tip of the tongue is down back of the tongue is pulled up. As you close your mouth to a smile your mouth is going to move to high and flat and then end by touching the tip of your tongue to the back of your top front teeth
for that n air moves out of your nose let’s put it all together

vain vein vane
vain vein vane

And now for a sentence
The vain man’s blood boiled in his veins when he noticed his friend was interested in the weather vane.

Give it a try i know people are going to notice the difference if you found this helpful we’d love a like a share and a subscribe check out all of our products on google play and iTunes and our class options at Tarle speech thanks so much everyone i’ll see you again soon!

The post How to Pronounce VAIN, VANE, VEIN – American English Homophone Pronunciation Lesson appeared first on Tarle Speech.

How to Pronounce STARE & STAIR – American English Homophone Pronunciation Lesson

Learn how to pronounce the words STARE & STAIR with this American English Pronunciation Lesson.

These words are homophones and are pronounced exactly the same way: S-T-AIR or /stɛr/.

Improve your accent and speak clearly with this ESL English pronunciation lesson. Learn how to pronounce English words correctly with Jennifer Tarle from Tarle Speech and Language. Lessons guide you through a quick pronunciation lesson with practice examples. Learn quick tips to have you sounding clearer in no time. Reduce your accent, gain confidence, and speak clearly today!

Definitions:

STARE to hold a gaze or a vacant look. STAIR is a step.

Sentence:

The dog on the stir likes to stare at the cat.

Transcript:

Hi everyone it’s jennifer with Tarle speech with your two for Tuesday – this is a homophone lesson the words are pronounced exactly the same way; the words are just spelled differently and have different meanings. So our words today are stare which means to hold a gaze or a vacant look and stair a step.

So to say these words correctly we’re going to start with that s t cluster to do this your tongue is going to be behind your top front teeth or slightly pointed down towards the bottom of your mouth and the air is going to move over your tongue and out of your mouth continuously; then you’re going to move that tongue to the back of the top front teeth and touch it for that t.

Then we’re going to move to that air vowel and to do that open your mouth wide air. Keep your tongue and about the same place when your mouth is open. It’s going to be low – tip of the tongue is going to be low, back of the tongue is going to be pulled way high up, keep the tongue in that position as you move to square tense lips.

air air air let’s put it all together

stare stare stare stare stare stare stare stare

And now for a sentence
The dog on the stair likes to stare at the cat.

Give it a try i know people are going to notice the difference if you found this helpful please share us with your friends and give us a like don’t forget to subscribe we have lots of products and class options at Tarle speech dot com thanks so much everyone have a great week!

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