Expert · Clear pronunciation and listening · topic 44 of 59 · 18 min
Tricky sounds: th, v and w, z, and more
Explanation
First, a promise: the goal of this module is clarity (साफ़ बोलना), not a British or American accent. Millions of people speak excellent English with an Indian accent. But a few sounds change the meaning of a word: "thank" and "tank", "west" and "vest", "ship" and "sheep". Fix these, and people everywhere will understand you easily.
The two "th" sounds
English "th" has no exact Hindi letter. It is NOT थ, ट or द: for those, your tongue stays behind your teeth. For "th", put the tip of your tongue lightly between your top and bottom teeth and push air out. In "think", "three", "thank" and "bath" there is only air (no voice). In "this", "that", "mother" and "with" the tongue is in the same place, but you add your voice so it buzzes.
Thank you. I think so.
Say it: THANK yoo. ai THINK soh
धन्यवाद। मुझे ऐसा लगता है।
Tongue tip lightly between the teeth, then blow. Not "tank you" (टैंक) and not "tink".
This is my mother, and that is my brother.
Say it: THIS iz my MUH-ther, and THAT iz my BRUH-ther
ये मेरी माँ हैं, और वो मेरा भाई है।
Voiced th: same tongue, add a buzz. Not "dis" and "mudder".
v and w
Hindi व sits between two English sounds. For v, your top teeth touch your lower lip and the sound buzzes: very, van, video, seven. For w, your teeth do not touch anything; round your lips as if you are saying "oo", then open them: west, wine, water, quick. So "vest" (बनियान) and "west" (पश्चिम) are two different words.
We went to Varanasi in a white van.
Say it: wee WENT tuh va-RAA-nuh-see in uh WYT VAN
हम एक सफ़ेद वैन में वाराणसी गए।
w = round lips ("oo-ent"). v = top teeth on the lower lip.
I will visit you on Wednesday evening.
Say it: ai wil VIZ-it yoo on WENZ-day EEV-ning
मैं बुधवार शाम को आपसे मिलने आऊँगा।
Two w sounds (will, Wednesday) and two v sounds (visit, evening).
| Pair | Word 1 | Word 2 | How to keep them apart |
|---|---|---|---|
| th / t | three, thank | tree, tank | th: tongue between the teeth, only air |
| th / d | they, then | day, den | th: tongue between the teeth, with a buzz |
| v / w | vest, vine | west, wine | v: teeth on lip; w: round lips |
| z / s | zip, rise, prize | sip, rice, price | z buzzes like a bee (ज़); s is a hiss (स) |
| sh / s | ship, she, shell | sip, see, sell | sh: lips pushed forward (श); s: lips flat (स) |
| short i / long ee | ship, live, fill, bit | sheep, leave, feel, beat | i: quick and relaxed (इ); ee: long, with a smile (ई) |
My cousin is busy with his business.
Say it: my KUZ-in iz BIZ-ee with hiz BIZ-nis
मेरा कज़िन अपने बिज़नेस में व्यस्त है।
Every s here is a z sound: the ज़ with a dot, as in ज़रूर. Not ज: say "zero", not "jero".
Sure, I'll put some sugar in your tea.
Say it: SHOOR, ail PUT sum SHUG-er in yor TEE
हाँ ज़रूर, मैं तुम्हारी चाय में थोड़ी चीनी डाल दूँगा।
"Sure" and "sugar" start with sh (श), not s. Some speakers swap s and sh ("same" as "shame"); keep them apart.
I live in Pune, but I will leave next week.
Say it: ai LIV in POO-nay, but ai wil LEEV nekst WEEK
मैं पुणे में रहता हूँ, पर अगले हफ़्ते जा रहा हूँ।
Short i in "live" (like इ). Long ee in "leave" (like ई, held a little longer).
No extra vowel
I take the school bus from the station.
Say it: ai TAYK thuh SKOOL bus from thuh STAY-shun
मैं स्टेशन से स्कूल बस लेता हूँ।
Start directly with s: "sss-kool", not "is-kool". Hold the s for a moment, then add the k.
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Tricky sounds: th, v and w, z, and more · 1/7
Hello! Today we practise the tricky English sounds. The goal is clear speech, not a foreign accent.
Prefer a video by a teacher? Find free videos on “th v w sound pronunciation english for hindi speakers” on YouTube ↗
In real life: Pronunciation practice at a call centre training
Trainer: Let's practise the opening line. Please say "Thank you for calling." Pooja: Tank you for calling. Trainer: Nearly there. Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth for "thank". Try again. Pooja: Thank you for calling. How can I help you? Trainer: Perfect. Now read this address: "Thirty-three West Street." Pooja: Thirty-three Vest Street. Trainer: Round your lips for "west", as if you are saying "oo". A vest is a piece of clothing! Pooja: West Street. Thirty-three West Street. Trainer: Excellent. Customers will understand you clearly now.
Practice (0/4 done)
Say this clearly. Watch your th, v and w sounds.
Thank you very much. I will visit you on Thursday with my brother.
बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद। मैं गुरुवार को अपने भाई के साथ आपसे मिलने आऊँगा।
Listen carefully to the th and w sounds, then type the sentence.
Write six sentences about your family or town. Each sentence must have one tricky sound: th, v, w, z, sh, and a short i or long ee word. Record yourself reading them, then listen.
In which word is "th" said with your voice (a buzz)?
Quick quiz
Related help
Before this, learn
This topic builds on these. If something here feels new, open them first.
Related topics
- Word stress and the schwa soundClear pronunciation and listening · same module
- Sentence stress, linking and intonationClear pronunciation and listening · same module
- Silent letters and -ed and -s endingsClear pronunciation and listening · same module
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- Polite requests and offersPolite and useful grammar
- Indian-English word choices and natural fixesSound natural: phrasal verbs, idioms and Indian-English fixes
Questions people ask about this
Open a question to see the answer and why. The first ones are this topic's own quiz, so try the quiz above before you peek.
To make the "th" in "think", where does your tongue go?
Answer: Lightly between the top and bottom teeth
For th, the tongue tip sits lightly between the teeth. Behind the teeth gives t, थ or d instead.
Which sound do you make with your top teeth on your lower lip?
Answer: v
v = top teeth on the lower lip with a buzz. For w you round your lips and the teeth touch nothing.
Which pair has a short i sound first and then a long ee sound?
Answer: fill, feel
"Fill" has the short i (इ); "feel" has the long ee (ई). The other pairs are in the opposite order.
How should you start the word "school"?
Answer: Directly with s: "skool"
English allows s + consonant at the start of a word. Do not add a vowel before or between them.
The s in "busy" and "is" sounds like...
Answer: z, a buzzing sound like ज़
In busy, is, his and business, the s is a z sound: ज़ with a dot, not ज.
How do you make the V sound?Related
Answer: Touch your top teeth to your lower lip
V is made with the top teeth on the lower lip. W is made with round lips.
Which sentence has natural English word order?Related
Answer: He went to Delhi yesterday.
English uses subject, verb, then the rest: "He went to Delhi yesterday."
The -s in "dogs" sounds like...Related
Answer: z
After a voiced sound like g, the -s ending is a z sound.
The schwa is the sound of...Related
Answer: the first a in "about"
The schwa is the weak "uh" in unstressed parts, like the first a in "about".
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Next steps
- 4 more topics in “Clear pronunciation and listening” before its exam: Word stress and the schwa sound, Sentence stress, linking and intonation, Silent letters and -ed and -s endings, Small talk and active listening.
- Module 11 exam: clear pronunciation and listening · 15 questions · 20 min, without help. 5 topics of this module still to finish first.
- Then the next module, English at work and interviews. 59 topics left in the course before the final exam.