If you're a Spanish speaker learning English, you've probably been told: "Don't forget to pronounce the H!" But why is this so difficult? The answer is simple: in Spanish, the letter H is completely silent. Your brain has been trained for years to ignore H, so remembering to pronounce it in English requires conscious effort.
This guide will teach you exactly how to pronounce the English H sound naturally and avoid common mistakes.
Why Spanish Speakers Struggle with H
In Spanish:
- Hola = /ˈola/ (the H is silent)
- Hombre = /ˈombre/ (the H is silent)
- Hacer = /aˈser/ (the H is silent)
In English, H is pronounced as an aspirated sound - a puff of air that comes from your throat.
The Three Common Mistakes:
Mistake #1: Omitting the H completely
- × "I'm going ome" instead of "I'm going home"
- × "She is appy" instead of "She is happy"
- × "I need elp" instead of "I need help"
Mistake #2: Replacing H with Spanish "jota" (j)
- × Pronouncing "house" like Spanish "jaus"
- × Making H sound too harsh, like clearing your throat
Mistake #3: Overpronouncing H in function words
- × Emphasizing H in "I HAVE to go" (in natural speech, this H is often dropped)
How to Make the English H Sound /h/
The English H is a glottal fricative. Don't worry about the technical term - here's what you need to do:
Step-by-step technique:
- Open your mouth slightly
- Keep your tongue relaxed and low in your mouth
- Push air from your throat (not your lips)
- The sound should be gentle, like a soft exhale or a sigh
Think of it like this: Imagine you're fogging up a mirror or trying to warm your hands with your breath in winter. That gentle "hhhh" sound is the English H.
Test Yourself
Put your hand in front of your mouth and say these words. You should feel a warm puff of air:
- house
- happy
- hello
- hot
If you don't feel air, you're not pronouncing the H!
Common Words with H
Practice these high-frequency words with H:
Note: H is NOT silent at the beginning of content words in English. Always pronounce it!
When H IS Silent in English
Here's the tricky part: H is sometimes silent in English, but only in specific situations:
Silent H in Function Words (Connected Speech)
In fast, natural speech, native speakers often drop H in small function words:
- "I told him" → sounds like "I told 'im"
- "Give her the book" → sounds like "Give 'er the book"
- "He left" → sounds like "'E left"
- "I have to go" → sounds like "I 'ave to go"
Important: This ONLY happens in casual, connected speech. When these words are stressed or stand alone, pronounce the H clearly.
Silent H in Specific Words
Some English words have a silent H (these are exceptions):
Minimal Pairs: H vs. No H
Practice these word pairs to hear the difference:
<MinimalPairCollection pairs={[ { word1: 'heat', ipa1: '/hiːt/', meaning1: 'warmth', word2: 'eat', ipa2: '/iːt/', meaning2: 'to consume food' }, { word1: 'hair', ipa1: '/hɛr/', meaning1: 'strands on head', word2: 'air', ipa2: '/ɛr/', meaning2: 'atmosphere' }, { word1: 'hall', ipa1: '/hɔːl/', meaning1: 'a corridor', word2: 'all', ipa2: '/ɔːl/', meaning2: 'everything' }, { word1: 'hear', ipa1: '/hɪr/', meaning1: 'to perceive sound', word2: 'ear', ipa2: '/ɪr/', meaning2: 'organ for hearing' }, { word1: 'high', ipa1: '/haɪ/', meaning1: 'elevated', word2: 'I', ipa2: '/aɪ/', meaning2: 'first person pronoun' }, { word1: 'heart', ipa1: '/hɑrt/', meaning1: 'organ that pumps blood', word2: 'art', ipa2: '/ɑrt/', meaning2: 'creative work' } ]} />
Can you hear the difference? The words with H have that puff of air at the beginning!
Practice Sentences
Read these sentences aloud, making sure to pronounce every H:
The Difference: H vs. Spanish Jota
Remember these key differences:
| Spanish Jota (j) | English H |
|---|---|
| Harsh, from the back of throat | Soft, gentle exhale |
| Sounds like clearing throat | Sounds like fogging a mirror |
| Strong friction | Light airflow |
Example:
- Spanish: "José" (harsh j sound)
- English: "Hose" (gentle h sound)
Quick Practice Exercise
Try this daily exercise:
- Put your hand in front of your mouth
- Say: "Hhhhhh" (like you're warming your hands)
- Now say: "hello, hello, hello"
- Make sure you feel the puff of air each time
Tips for Building the Habit
Since Spanish speakers are used to ignoring H, building the habit takes time:
- Practice daily: Spend 5 minutes each day on H pronunciation
- Use physical cues: Always check with your hand to feel the air
- Record yourself: Listen back to catch missed H sounds
- Focus on high-frequency words: Master common H words first (have, has, he, she, here, how)
- Be patient: Your brain needs time to unlearn the "H is silent" rule
Key Takeaways
- Spanish H is silent; English H is pronounced
- English H is a gentle puff of air from your throat
- Place your hand in front of your mouth to check
- Don't replace H with Spanish jota - keep it soft
- H is silent in some function words during fast speech
- Some specific English words have silent H (honest, hour, honor)
With consistent practice, pronouncing H will become automatic. The key is awareness - now that you understand why you skip H (because Spanish trained you to!), you can consciously work on including it in your English pronunciation.