Why Correct English Pronunciation Feels ‘Exaggerated’ (Especially for Spanish Speakers)

Have you ever started pronouncing English "the right way" and thought, "This feels exaggerated… like I'm acting"? That reaction is normal - especially for Spanish speakers. Early on, clear pronunciation often feels bigger, louder, and even strange. The good news: it won't feel exaggerated forever. It's your brain building new settings for sounds that don't exist in Spanish.

Why it feels exaggerated

• New targets, new muscles. English has more vowel contrasts and different consonant timing than Spanish. Hitting new targets (for example, /iː/ vs /ɪ/, /æ/ vs /ɑ/, /ʊ/ vs /uː/) requires larger jaw drops, tongue shifts, and lip shapes than you’re used to. Early attempts feel “too much,” but that’s how you reach the right acoustic zone.
• Clear speech = hyperarticulation. When speakers aim to be extra clear, they naturally "open up" their vowels and separate sounds more. This is called hyperarticulation and it increases intelligibility. Learners often need a touch of this at first to escape Spanish defaults.
• Perception lags production. Your ears are calibrated to Spanish categories, so accurate English may sound odd - even if it's correct. As your perception adapts, what felt exaggerated will start to sound normal.
• Motor learning stages. New mouth movements start conscious and effortful. With practice, they become automatic and smaller. What begins as "performing" becomes your new default.

The key idea you can use today

Aim slightly “bigger than comfortable” on the sounds you consistently miss. Then gradually relax as your accuracy stabilizes. Think: train with strong reps, perform with natural ones.

Examples Spanish speakers struggle with (and why bigger helps)

Contrast sheep vs. ship

What helps: Smile and tense for /iː/; relax lips and tongue for /ɪ/.

Contrast pool vs. pull

What helps: Round and hold for /uː/; shorter, more central /ʊ/.

Contrast cat vs. cot (AmE)

What helps: Bigger jaw drop and front tongue for /æ/; back tongue for /ɑ/.

Learn more: The mysterious /æ/ sound in cat, hat, bad

Initial s- words

What helps: Start with a long /s/ without adding a Spanish-style pre-vowel.

Master this: How to say school, speak, stop without adding 'e'

How to make it feel less exaggerated over time

• Calibrate with recordings. Record a short sentence weekly. Compare to a trusted model. Notice how "big" you need to be to sound accurate.
• Use mirrors and minimal pairs. Visual feedback makes the new shapes feel safer and more repeatable.
• Taper gradually. Once native listeners understand you easily, reduce the size of movements slightly while keeping the sound.
• Prioritize listener comfort. Clear beats subtle. If people ask you to repeat, go a bit "bigger."

Quick practice (1 minute)

Say each pair three times, holding the key posture for the target vowel.

(practice the short i vs long ee sounds)

For interactive practice with these sounds, try our vowel sound practice tools where you can hear and repeat each contrast.

Wrap up

If accurate English feels exaggerated, that’s a sign you're reaching new targets - not that you're doing it wrong. Train a little big; perform naturally. With time, your “exaggeration” becomes efficiency.

FAQ (short)

• Isn’t exaggeration unnatural?
  Early in training it’s a tool. The end goal is efficient, natural speech.
• Will this give me a fake accent?
  No. It helps you hit contrasts clearly. Your identity stays; intelligibility improves.
• How long until it feels normal?
  Weeks to months, depending on practice frequency and feedback.