Step 1 of 5
How to pronounce the letter “s”
Individual soundssounds1,048 views
“s” is often a /z/ — in plurals, in verbs, in ordinary words. The rule is simpler than it looks.
Lesson notes →Letter by letter
The individual letters that misbehave most in British English, in the order they cause trouble. 5 lessons · free.
Step 2 of 5
How to pronounce the letter “z”
Individual soundssounds2,655 views
The British name for the letter, and the more useful part — where the /z/ sound actually turns up in ordinary words.
Lesson notes →Step 3 of 5
How to pronounce the letter “r”
Individual soundssounds1,856 views
The British /r/ and, just as importantly, the many places where it is written but never said at all.
Lesson notes →Step 4 of 5
How to pronounce the letter “y”
Individual soundssounds2,568 views
“y” behaves as a consonant and a vowel depending on where it sits. Ed sorts the cases with examples you can copy out loud.
Lesson notes →Step 5 of 5
How to pronounce the letter “x”
Individual soundssounds3,045 views
One letter, more than one sound. When “x” is /ks/, when it turns into /gz/, and why the stress in the word decides it.
Lesson notes →Other paths
How to practise
Why English pronunciation is so hard
Spelling that lies to you, vowels that outnumber the letters, and stress that moves. A good place to start.
1.7K views on YouTubeWatch →
Connected speech
Why British people say “bo’ohw’o’wo’er”
The glottal stop, explained with the internet's favourite example. Once you hear where the /t/ goes, a lot of British speech stops sounding slurred.
8.6K views on YouTubeWatch →
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