4 Indispensable Rules For Better English Pronunciation

If you're interested in the history of the English language and learning new expressions then sign up to our newsletter - it's free.

Instead of learning the pronunciation of individual words learn the rules of English pronunciation. English spelling/pronunciation seems chaotic but there are rules and in this video you'll learn (more than) 4 that will help you see the logic behind the English language and will help raise your level of pronunciation.

0:00 The logic of English
00:42 Learn the regular
03:33 Elsa speak
05:18 Weak forms
10:11 The voiced and unvoiced TH
14:14 Pronounce the phrase not the words

Subscribe here

Learn English in Paris or join an online class.
instagram @LetThemTalkParis

[Canuto]

Fascinating. I’m a native Spanish speaker that has been learning and speaking American English for the last 40 some years. It’s great to see the why of things I recognized as weird but leaned to accept and conform to. Thank you.

[OceanChild]

This is such a detailed and articulated video, thank you so much! I do feel guilty for always wanting more videos and podcasts from you but the quality of your work is way beyond compare

[sultanawwad]

One of the best English language content there to find … many thanks

[Eddi.M.]

Long time no see! English has rules and logic? That was new to me 🙂

[mariannereuter]

What an eye-opener! I never thought about weak and strong words until now. Makes so much sense though ... Thank you!

[itsyourgirlzuzu]

This is a rather exciting and educational video. I appreciate all the works you put into your content. Thank you so much.

[gaufrid]

As an Aussie and a native speaker of Aussie English I agree wholeheartedly with what you say! Having lived for five years in Mindanao Philippines I've also noticed similar things in the way people shorten words in Mindanao Cebuano (or as it is known here "Bisaya"). Back in 2017 my wife Helly spent three months in Australia with me and my son Donovan. She is fluent in English and five Filipino languages but she said to me that when I was speaking to Donovan it was hard for her to understand because it was "so slang". Of course my son and I were speaking like native speakers. I have conversational level of Bisaya now and higher level for chat online and singing, and people have said they don't hear an Aussie accent! English really is a hard language to learn. Cebuano and Tagalog here in the Philippines are easier. Of course the grammar is so different from English that many foreigners don't bother to learn the local language. I've noticed that when I chat online with my wife I often use a combination of Mindanao Cebuano and English, with the occasional Tagalog words. I call this "Taglishaya". Because in the Philippines the official languages are Filipino (Tagalog) and English, most people speak "Taglish" or "Bislish". As someone very interested in languages I find it amazing to be here and experience how languages change!

[guillaumeromain]

Brilliant content Gideon, you consistently make relevant points which trully help me improving. I can't thank you enough.! And the way you deliver them makes me feel relaxed. You are a master

[lisaedmondson]

Wow, I’m impressed! These are the very notions I’m trying to impart to my French students right now! And now I have the tools to strengthen my classes. Pure GOLD!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Def a “passer-onner”😁
And definitely contacting you (as you’d suggested before😊).
Thank you so very much, Gideon, and talk to you soon!🙏🏽

[markdonovan]

The slides with "arriving", at time stamps 06:05 and 06:13, are shown incorrectly written as "ariving".
This is an excellent video which will help many students of the English language.
You're right in saying that most of the time, if not all, the emphasis is on the exceptions instead of regular pronunciation. The "schwa" is one sound that often foxes speakers of more phonetic languages, such as Spanish.

[soniamayrink]

Extremelly useful and necessary. Thank you.

[maritzajimenez]

Wow! This is a great class! I have to back on it again and again ! It's the first time someone teaches it ! Thank you so much !

[Agadoo]

Sir, You are the best teacher in the whole world ! Thank you very much for your videos 🙂

[SoniaSonya-qm]

Great explanations! Thank you so much. You're so generous for these free lessons.

[proshunsarkar]

Thank you you are great and intelligent. I appreciate you.

[genevieverouet]

That is a very appealing approach of pronunciation ! Thank you.

[nezapamatovatelne]

I like most of your videos, Gideon, but this one it's just a gem. Thank you so much.

[vicentemontequin]

Outstanding Beatles' reference, Gideon!

[isabelatence]

My joy to see you, I think I need a (tongue ) for pronunciations, I didn't imagine 70% of rules, I loved every tip, listen several times, practice unrolling the intonation of words, I bought 2 new LetThemTalkTV t-shirts, I love this one channel, Gideon stay mellow, very grateful💕

[curtiscroulet]

"-ture" is pronounced "-chuh" in your dialect. I'm an American from California. I clearly pronounce the "R." I my speech, and that of most Americans that I converse with, "for" and "four" are pronounced identically. There may be regional differences that I don't often encounter.