Classroom Pronunciation Reductions Grammar Conversation Reading Listening Vocabulary Activities Videos
Idioms Slang Acronyms Phonics Portmanteau Words Handwriting Alphabet Surveys Tests
Holidays Movies Everyday Environment Learning News Places Flashcards Study Literacy
World America History Drive Education Teaching Dictionary Resources About Contact
 
Pronunciation Lesson 22
 
Pronounce the sound in the words:
bet, but, bit, beach
Quick Links
Vowels 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10    
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20    
Consonants 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44
Pronunciation video

Watch the following video and learn how to pronounce this sound


Practice speaking while watching the video.
Spelling

This sound can only be spelled the following way
b bet, bass, bat, but, bit, bunch, boring, bony, beach, bill, best, beak, back
 
Note: the red letters all have the same sound
 
Sound type

This is a VOICED sound which means Your Vocal Cords DO vibrate when making this sound.
You CAN LISTEN to your Vocal Cords vibrating if you cover your ears with your hands.

Try covering your ears with your hands as Akiko is doing in the picture.

Now make the sound of this lesson. Can you listen to your vocal cords vibrating?
VERY GOOD
You CAN FEEL your Vocal Cords vibrating if you place your hands on your neck.

Try placing your hands on your neck as Akiko is doing in the picture.

Now make the sound of this lesson. Can you feel your vocal cords vibrating?
VERY GOOD
The following diagram shows the most important parts of your head and mouth used for pronouncing the sounds of English. It also shows the location of your Vocal Cords.
 
Mouth, lips, and tongue position

The following descriptions explain the proper mouth, lips, and tongue position when you make this sound.
Mouth

Your mouth releases air which is then quickly stopped.
Lips

Your lips are together at the beginning.
Tongue

The front part of your tongue should be in the center part of your mouth.
Practice video

Watch the following video and practice pronouncing this sound.


Listen to the video and practice repeating each word.
 
 
Pronunciation practice words

Look at your mouth in a mirror and practice pronouncing the following words. Make sure your mouth, lips, and tongue are in their proper positions.
bet bass bat but
bit bunch boring back
beach bill best beak
 
Note: the red letters all have the same sound (watch the video above)
 
Pronunciation word test
Try saying the following tongue twisters as quickly as possible.
  • Betty Botter bought some butter. / "But," she said, "this butter's bitter! / If I put it in my batter, / It will make my batter bitter!" / So she bought a bit of butter / Better than her bitter butter, / And she put it in her batter, / And her batter was not bitter. / So 'twas better Betty Botter / Bought a bit of better butter.
  • Peggy Babcock.
  • The black bloke's back brake block broke.
  • Toy boat [repeated]
  • Rubber buggy bumpers [repeated]
  • Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat.
  • A bitter biting bittern Bit a better brother bittern, And the bitter better bittern Bit the bitter biter back. And the bitter bittern, bitten, By the better bitten bittern, Said: "I'm a bitter biter bit, alack!"
  • I cannot bear to see a bear Bear down upon a hare. When bare of hair he strips the hare, Right there I cry, "Forbear!"
  • A box of biscuits, a batch of mixed biscuits.
  • A big black bug bit a big black bear, made the big black bear bleed blood.
  • The boot black bought the black boot back.
  • Black bug's blood.
  • Betty better butter Brad's bread.
  • Brad's big black bath brush broke.
  • Betty and Bob brought back blue balloons from the big bazaar.
  • A bloke's back bike brake block broke.
  • Good blood, bad blood.
  • Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons -- balancing them badly.
  • The blue bluebird blinks.
  • Pretty Kitty Creighton had a cotton batten cat. The cotton batten cat was bitten by a rat. The kitten that was bitten had a button for an eye, and biting off the button made the cotton batten fly.
  • Ruby Rugby's brother bought and brought her back some rubber baby-buggy bumpers.
 
 
Pronunciation Information
American English Phonics

Learn the sounds of vowel and consonant combinations. Match the vowels (A,E,I,O,U) with the consonants (B,D,G,M,N,P,R,T,W,Y) to form words with the same sounds. Pictures included to make understanding easier. Great pages for kids.
News Words

Learn to correctly pronounce difficult world places and names in the news. Each country page shows the English spelling and the phonetic spelling of difficult to pronounce words in the news from that country. This is very important if you want to discuss the news and other issues with native English speakers.
 
More Pronunciation Information
Are You How You Talk?
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson to help with your understanding of American dialects.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page.
Are You How You Talk?
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your understanding of American dialects. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
Improve Your Pronunciation by Training Your Ears
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your pronunciation and English language reductions. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Great English pronunciation tips. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
 
Search Fun Easy English
 
 
 
 
About    Contact    Copyright    Resources    Site Map