Common Pronunciation Challenges for Non-native Speakers

‘Three or Free?’

The /th/ sound is pronounced by placing the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower teeth and blowing air out, while the /f/ sound is made by placing the upper teeth lightly on the lower lip and pushing air through.

 

The tongue is key in /th/, while the lips and teeth form the /f/ sound. The /th/ sound particularly troubles speakers of Cantonese and Mandarin where the /th/ sound simply doesn’t exist. That being said, sometimes, even native English speakers confuse between the rather similar /f/ and /th/ sounds! 

‘Light or Right?’

The /r/ sound is made by curling the tongue slightly back without touching the roof of the mouth, while the /l/ sound involves the tip of the tongue touching the bony ridge just behind the upper teeth.

 

The key difference is that /r/ is produced with the tongue hovering, while /l/ requires a brief contact at the front of the mouth. Japanese and Korean speakers may often struggle with /l/ and /r/ sounds because their native languages don’t distinguish between them the same way as English does.

‘Ship or Sheep?’

The /ɪ/ sound features a relaxed, slightly raised tongue and unrounded lips, while the /iː/ sound has a higher, tenser tongue position and is longer in duration. The key difference is that /iː/ is longer and more pronounced than /ɪ/.

 

Speakers of various first languages often confuse the /ɪ/ sound with the /iː/ sound, especially when their native languages lack this distinction. In French and Italian, for example, the letter ‘i’ represents a vowel sound closer to the English long /iː/, while the short /ɪ/ sound is absent.

‘Vine or Wine?’

The /w/ sound is produced with rounded lips and a relatively relaxed tongue positioned towards the back of the mouth, creating a smooth glide. In contrast, the /v/ sound involves a more tense tongue position and requires the upper teeth to make contact with the lower lip, producing a voiced friction sound. 

 

Non-Anglophones may sometimes confuse /w/ and /v/ because these sounds can be represented differently in their phonetic inventory. In Hindi, for example, the /v/ sound is often used in contexts where English uses /w/, leading to pronunciation errors.

Why do so many people face challenges in communicating effectively in English, even after years of study?

If you've spent decades learning English but still struggle with being understood, you're not alone. Perhaps mispronunciations make you anxious, or the rapid speech of native speakers feels overwhelming. These frustrations are common among adult learners.

Children under 10 tend to absorb language naturally, but as we grow older, learning becomes more structured, and pronunciation is often overlooked in favour of vocabulary and grammar. Fortunately, this doesn't mean effective communication is out of reach. With a focus on clear pronunciation and fluency, anyone can improve their English, regardless of age or where they live.

Ready to start? Read on to discover how you can enhance your communication skills!

0+ Years
of experience in recruiting NETs
0+ Schools
have chosen us as their service provider
0+ Courses
have been delivered to schools each year

Developed by Experts with Over 20 Years of Experience

Our meticulously designed course is the result of decades of expertise brought to you by a dedicated team of language specialists and knowledgeable educators from Eureka Language Services. With a track record of delivering more than 3,000 English classes to over 40,000 non-native English-speaking students in the past 20 years, Eureka’s wealth of experience ensures an enjoyable and effective learning experience.

Communicate effectively!
Speak naturally!
Connect with others!