The influential H

The letter H is one of the most commonly-used letters in the English language--and one of the most controversial. In fact, there has been a centuries-old debate whether it is a true letter or not. Maybe that's because the sound associated with the letter is unvoiced--and it's made with just a little "outbreath" as the back of the tongue moves up slightly (without touching anything.)

As a result, unlike in Spanish, the "h" at the beginning of English words (with a few exceptions) is always pronounced (e.g. hotel, hand, horn, heart.)

But the "h" does much more than add a tiny sound to the beginnings of some words. It performs a much more important role in the English language. When it follows certain consonants, it creates whole new sounds, whole new meanings--and new pronunciation challenges.

TH: When an "h" follows a "t," the sound is made by placing the tongue through the teeth--and it can be either voiced or unvoiced. http://pronuncian.com/pronounce-th-sounds

TH (voiced) they (thay), these (theez), this (thihs), father (FAH thur), that (that)

TH (unvoiced) think (theenk), threw (throo), thing (theeng), thought (thaht)

They threw three free throws through the hoop.

Room three thirty three on the third floor rents for 33 dollars and 33 cents.

Is this the thing!? Yes, that is the thing. Not these things here but those things there.

Father, mother, sister, brother, walk from here to there to be with one another.

I thought a thought but the thought I thought wasn't the thought that I thought I thought.

Practice these tongue twisters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOqlPXvnG34

SH: This unvoiced sound is made by putting your teeth together, putting the front of your tongue close to (but not touching) the top of your mouth and forcing air out of your mouth. http://pronuncian.com/pronounce-sh-sound

shells (shehlz), seashore (SEE shor), shall (shal), should (shud)

She sells seashells by the seashore. The shells she sells are surely seashore shells.

So if she sells shells on the seashore, I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

Practice these tongue twisters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEg9xQ50BgE

CH: This sound can be made four different ways. However, most words starting with "ch" are pronounced by forcing air through your closed teeth while your tongue is touching the top of your mouth. http://pronuncian.com/pronounce-ch-sound

church (church), chain (chayn), chance (chans), chug (chuhg), choice (chois)

WH: This sound is made with your jaw mostly closed and your lips in a small, tight circle. This is an unvoiced sound that is made by forcing air through your lips. Over the years, the distinction between the "W" and "WH" sounds has decreased, it is important to understand the importance of the "h" in words. As you can see, the meanings of the words that include an "h" are completely different from those without. http://pronuncian.com/pronounce-w-sound

WH (w) or (wh) what (whuht/wuht), where (whair/wair), while (whail/wail)