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The dis- Prefix: /s/ or /z/? Disagree vs Disaster vs Disease
Is dis- pronounced with /s/ or /z/? Learn why disagree and dishonest keep a clean /s/, why disease and disaster buzz with /z/, and why the vowel is always a short /ɪ/.
English Vowel Practice for Workplace Instructions
Fill or file? Desk or disk? Practice six English vowel contrasts in workplace instructions, with interactive word cards, a listening check, and clear answers.
Final -O Is Always a Full Long O: Why Photo, Piano and Tomato Never End in Schwa
A word-final o in English is a full /oʊ/ diphthong, even in unstressed syllables. Learn why photo, piano, tomato, radio and video never end in a weak schwa.
Initial Unstressed A Is a Schwa: About, Again, Alone, Account, America
When a word starts with an unstressed a, like about, again and alone, that a is a quick schwa /ə/. Learn the rule, the exceptions and how to practice it.
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The -ior, -ier and -iar Endings: How to Pronounce Senior, Superior, Cashier and Easier
Why is senior two syllables but superior four? Learn the stress-and-consonant rule behind -ior, -ier and -iar endings in American English, with exceptions and practice.
Latin -us and -um Endings: Why Bonus, Virus, Album and Museum Use Schwa
English words ending in -us and -um use a weak schwa, not an "oo" sound: BOH-nuhs, AL-buhm. Learn the rule, the -ium/-eum stress pattern, and the exceptions.
Country to Nationality: How the Stress Moves (Japan, Japanese, Italy, Italian)
Why is it JA-pan but ja-pa-NESE, and IT-a-ly but i-TAL-ian? Learn how the suffix (-ese, -ian, -an, -ish, -i) decides where the stress and vowels go in nationality words.
Ob-, Oc-, Of-, Op-: Why Occur and Offend Start With 'Uh' but Office Doesn't
Initial o in occur, offend, official and opinion is a quick schwa, but in office, opposite and object it is a full vowel. Word families show exactly when the o changes.
The SU-, SUB-, SUS-, SUR- Rule: Why Support Sounds Like 'suh-PORT'
Unstressed su-, sub-, sus- and sur- shrink to a schwa (support, suggest, success), while stressed ones use /ʌ/ or /ɝ/ (subway, sudden, surface). Learn the rule and its exceptions.
The Hidden Y in -ular, -ulate, -ulous: How to Say Regular, Popular and Calculate
Why regular sounds like "REG-yuh-ler": an unstressed u before l plus a vowel hides a y sound and a schwa. Learn the rule, the exceptions and practice words.
Unstressed Initial E, EN-, EX-: Why Event, Enjoy and Explain Start with a Short /ɪ/
In American English, an unstressed e, en-, em- or ex- at the start of a word is a short /ɪ/ or schwa, not "eh" or "ee". Learn the rule for event, enjoy, explain and example, plus the exceptions.
Pharmacy Pickup in English: What Did They Ask?
Understand pharmacy pickup questions, practice prescription and refill stress, and rehearse a short dialogue with comprehension exercises.