Difficult Sounds — TH, R/L, W/V
A1 · American Speech · The three classic trouble spots for learners worldwide
Three sounds cause trouble for learners from almost every language: TH (think, this), the R/L contrast (red, led), and W/V (west, vest). Each one is a simple mouth position — learn the position and the sound follows.
Step 1 — Notice
- TH is not S or Z, and not T or D: tongue out, gentle air — think, three, thank you.
- The voiced TH in 'this, the, that' buzzes between the teeth.
- R and L differ by tongue contact: R touches nothing; L tip touches.
- V uses teeth on lip; W uses round lips only. 'Very well' needs both.
Step 2 — Listen
AI-generated American voice. Natural first, then slow. Listen as many times as you need.
think
Tongue between the teeth, soft air.
this
Same position, with voice — it buzzes.
three
TH + R together — take it slowly.
red
R: tongue back, touching nothing.
vest
Teeth on bottom lip, buzzing.
I think this is very good.
TH twice, V once — the whole lesson in one line.
Ear Training — Which Word Did You Hear?
Play the word, then choose what you heard. After you answer, hear both words and compare.
Step 4 — Repeat & Record
Say each model out loud, right after the voice. Then record yourself saying the target line: think
Record yourself, play it back, and compare with the model. Recordings stay in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Step 5 — Compare & Self-Check
Play your recording from Step 4. Then play the model again. No scores — just honest ears. Tick what you truly did:
Step 6 — Shadow
The text starts hidden. Listen first, then reveal it, then speak with the voice — same rhythm, half a second behind.
I think this is the right way.
Thank you very much.
Practice Quiz
Keep going
🇺🇸 Real American Listening — hear it in real conversation🎙️ Speaking Studio — use your voice in dialogues🌱 Vocabulary Builder — words with pronunciation🔗 Phrasal Verbs Lab📚 Graded Stories — shadow a story← Previous lesson · A1 — all lessons · Next: Syllables — Counting the Beats →
Ad space