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3 Consejos Efectivos para Mejorar Tu Pronunciación en Inglés: Guía para Hispanohablantes

Improving pronunciation in English can be challenging for native Spanish speakers, especially because of unique sounds and syllable patterns. Here are some specific tips, with helpful tongue twisters to practice.

1. Stop Adding “E” Before “S” (e.g., Saying “Espeak” for “Speak”)


A common habit among Spanish speakers is to add an “E” sound before “S” at the beginning of words, saying “espeak” instead of “speak” or “estop” instead of “stop.” This happens because, in Spanish, most words beginning with “S” also start with an “E” (such as “escuela” for school). In English, however, the “S” sound is pronounced alone without an extra sound in front.

Top Tip: The English S is often pronounecd like the C in cielo. Practice Making the “S” Sound Smoothly

Practice holding the “S” sound in long stretches: “ssssssssssss.” This helps train your mouth to make the sound without adding an “E.”

Another trick is to link the “S” sound to the previous word when possible, making the “S” flow naturally without an added “E.”

Instead of saying “I saw Steven sleeping,” try “Iss awS tevens leeping.
Instead of “He speaks Spanish,” say “Hes peaks panish.”
Tongue Twister to Practice:
Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.
Seven silver swans swam silently seaward.

2. Master the “TH” Sound


The English “TH” sound doesn’t exist in Spanish, making it challenging for native Spanish speakers. Often, Spanish speakers pronounce “the” and “that” with the tongue behind the teeth, making them sound like “de” and “dat.” Instead, try placing the tip of your tongue between your teeth and letting air flow gently over it.

Practice Tip: Repeat words like “the”, “that”, “think”, and “through” with your tongue between your teeth. Keep the sound soft to avoid sounding too harsh or exaggerated.

Tongue Twister to Practice:
Think of three thousand things on Thursday.
Thirty-three thirsty thieves thought they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.”

3. Don’t Drop Consonant Sounds at the End of Words


In Spanish, it’s rare to end words with consonant clusters (two or more consonants together), so native Spanish speakers sometimes drop final consonants in English without realizing it. This can make words sound incomplete or confusing. For example:

Saying “clou” instead of “cloud”
Saying “roa” instead of “road”
Pronouncing “ligh” instead of “light”
Dropping final consonants also happens with verbs in the past tense. For example, “walked” may sound like “walk”, and “missed” like “miss.”

Top Tip: Use a Pronunciation App to Practice Final Sounds

Apps that focus on English pronunciation can help you practice final consonants and ensure you’re pronouncing the full word. You can listen to recordings, repeat words, and compare your pronunciation to native speakers. This type of feedback can help you become more aware of the sounds you may be dropping and improve accuracy.

Another Top Tip: Link Words in Sentences

Instead of focusing on each individual sound, try linking words as native speakers do. Blending the end sound of one word with the start of the next can help keep final consonants. Here are some examples:

We walked in the park” → Pronounce it as “We walk din the park.”
I missed a call” → Say it as “I miss ta call.
Turn off the light” → Blend it to sound like “Tur nof the light.”
Tongue Twister to Practice:
Lift the left leg lightly, then leave it.
Rob ran round the rock right after raining.”

Practicing Consistently Is Key


Take time to practice these techniques regularly with common phrases and sentences. Recording yourself can be a helpful way to check for any dropped sounds or added “E” sounds in your pronunciation. Focusing on these areas will make a big difference in helping you sound more fluent and natural in English.

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