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Silent Letters in English Place Names: Worcester, Greenwich, Thames, and More
Worcester is WUSS-ter, Greenwich is GREN-itch, and the Thames is temz. Learn the rules behind the silent letters that make English place names so hard to read aloud.
Silent W in English: The Complete Guide (two, sword, answer, who)
Every English word where the letter W is written but never pronounced, in one place. From wr- words to two, sword, answer, who, and place names like Greenwich.
The CURE Vowel /ʊr/: How to Pronounce Poor, Sure, Tour, and Pure
English has a third R-coloured vowel that most courses skip: the CURE vowel /ʊr/ in poor, sure, tour, pure, cure, and Europe. Learn the spelling patterns, the y-glide rule, and why Americans often merge it with the NORTH vowel.
The NORTH Vowel /ɔːr/: How to Pronounce For, More, Door, Four, and Board
One vowel covers some of the most common words in English: the /ɔːr/ sound in for, more, door, four, board, your, and store. Learn the five spellings that all say /ɔːr/, how to make it, and the traps that change the sound.
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The -STION Rule: Why Question, Suggestion, and Digestion Sound Like 's-chun'
Most -tion words say /ʃən/ ('shun'), but after an S the rule changes: -stion becomes /s.tʃən/ ('s-chun'). Learn why question, suggestion, digestion, and combustion keep a hidden CH sound, with practice words and the related -stial pattern.
Dictionary, Secretary, Every: The -ARY/-ORY/-ERY Reduction Rule
Long words ending in -ary, -ory and -ery are not pronounced syllable by syllable. The stress jumps to the front and the middle vowels collapse into schwa. Here is how to say them naturally.
Separate vs Separate: The -ATE Ending That Changes With Word Type
The same -ate spelling sounds like /eɪt/ in a verb but shrinks to /ət/ in a noun or adjective. Learn the pattern behind separate, graduate and estimate.
Double C, Two Sounds: When CC Says /ks/ and When It Says /k/
The letters CC are not always /k/. Before E, I or Y they split into /ks/ (accent), but before other letters they stay a single /k/ (account). One clear rule covers both.
Double Letters, Single Sound: Stop Pronouncing Both Consonants
In English a doubled consonant is never said twice - it is one quick sound. The second letter is a spelling signal, not a sound. Here is what it really tells you.
Fifth, Sixth, Months: How to Survive English's Hardest Endings
English piles consonants at the end of words: /fθ/, /ksθ/, /nθs/. The instinct is to add a vowel, but that breaks the word. Learn how to keep these clusters clean.
When G Sounds Like the S in 'Measure': The /ʒ/ Words You Mispronounce
In words borrowed from French, the letter G is not /g/ or /dʒ/ - it becomes the soft /ʒ/ sound. Here is the rule and the words it affects.
Advice or Advise? The Noun-Verb Sound Rule (/s/ vs /z/)
Many English pairs share a spelling but split by job: the noun ends in a hissing /s/, the verb in a buzzing /z/. Master use, house, advice and more.