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Pronunciation Lesson 27
 
Pronounce the sound in the words:
front, fast, fan, fairy
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 be spelled in any of the following ways
f fast, fan, ferry, front, finger, feel, fool, awful, surfing, belief, safe, proof, thief, half, fairy
gh laughter
ph phase, phrase
 
Note: the red letters all have the same sound
 
Sound type

This is an UNVOICED sound which means Your Vocal Cords DO NOT vibrate when making the sound.
You CANNOT 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. You cannot listen to your vocal cords vibrating.
VERY GOOD
You CANNOT 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. You cannot 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 continuously.
Lips

Your upper teeth touch your lower lip.
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.
phase front fast fan
fairy phrase feel awful
surfing belief proof laughter
 
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.
  • I'm not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's mate, and I'm only plucking pheasants 'cause the pheasant plucker's late. I'm not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's son, and I'm only plucking pheasants Till the pheasant pluckers come.
  • One smart fellow, he felt smart. Two smart fellows, they felt smart. Three smart fellows, they all felt smart.
  • Friendly Frank flips fine flapjacks.
  • A flea and a fly flew up in a flue. Said the flea, "Let us fly!" Said the fly, "Let us flee!" So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
  • Fat frogs flying past fast.
  • Flee from fog to fight flu fast!
  • Of all the felt I ever felt, I never felt a piece of felt which felt as fine as that felt felt, when first I felt that felt hat's felt.
  • Freshly fried fresh flesh.
  • Freshly fried flying fish.
  • Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread.
 
 
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
 
 
 
 
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