Stress and Thought Groups in American English Archives • Page 2 of 7 • English with Kim

Dropped Sounds & Deleted Syllables – Why Entire Syllables Disappear from Words in American English

The words we’re going to talk about today aren’t especially interesting, but they probably sound different than you expect. We’ll focus on several words that you use almost every day, so that you feel more comfortable saying them naturally. Is what we’re discussing today still a mystery? Then grab a warm beverage, like hot chocolate, and let’s get started! In this video, you’ll learn 20 words in American English that have dropped, deleted, or disappearing … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Advanced Word Stress – Practice Contrast Between Stressed and Unstressed and Reduced Syllables

By now, you know the number one piece of accent advice I wish I could give every non-native speaker: stress your words clearly. Word stress helps you pronounce words accurately, and it helps other people identify and understand the word you’re saying. When we stress a word, we emphasize one syllable of this word by making the vowel sound longer, louder, and higher in pitch, with extra clear mouth movement. Stressing words consistently helps you … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Communicate Clearly and Confidently in American English – Four Ways to Use Your Voice

One of the biggest concerns I hear from my clients and students is that they want how they sound in English to reflect the quality of their ideas. In other words, they want to communicate clearly and confidently, so that other people can easily understand and follow what they’re saying. Let’s talk about four ways you can improve how you use your voice in order to speak more clearly so that you’re more easily understood. … Read the article and watch the video lesson

How to Say All 50 US States with Clear Word Stress 🇺🇸

Quick quiz: How do you say the names of these popular states? Is it CAlifornia, or CaliFORnia? Do you say FloRIda, or FLORida? Should you pronounce it NEW York, or New YORK? If you’re not 100% sure how to say these states, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many of the non-native speakers I work with have trouble identifying which syllable to stress, or emphasize, when they’re saying the 50 United States. Remember, these are people … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Explore Your Pitch in American English – Pitch, Stress, Intonation, and Tone of Voice

Ever asked yourself one of these questions about pitch? I don’t understand how to use pitch. Why can’t I hear pitch in my own voice? What’s the difference between pitch and volume? Are they the same thing? They sound like it. How do you use pitch to communicate meaning in English? What does tone mean in English? Is English a tonal language? What’s the difference between pitch, stress, and intonation? Some people talk about them … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Don’t Speak Fast English – Speak Clear English Instead (Here’s How)

So you want to sound more like a native English speaker. That means you have to speak fast English, right? Absolutely not! One of the biggest issues I have with American accent advice is the emphasis on speaking fast English. If you only spoke faster, you’d sound more natural and more American. 🤔 The problem with this advice is that it emphasizes speed over clarity. You may think you’ll impress people with how quickly the … Read the article and watch the video lesson