Learn How to Pronounce river
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How to pronounce:
river
Definition:
(nou) a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
Phonetic Transcription:
ˈrɪvə
Examples:
We can swim in the river or in the sea.
The water in the river flowed rapidly.
The water is returned to the river downstream.
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How to perfect your pronunciation of: river
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Common mistakes of river pronunciation
- Dropping the "r": Some speakers may omit the initial "r" sound, saying "iver" instead of "river". This can confuse listeners. Tip: Practice starting with the "r" sound, as in IPA /ˈrɪvər/ (US) or /ˈrɪvə/ (UK).
- Misplacing the stress: Incorrectly stressing the second syllable, saying "ri-VER" instead of "RIV-er", can lead to misunderstandings. Tip: Remember that the primary stress is on the first syllable, as shown in IPA /ˈrɪvər/ (US) and /ˈrɪvə/ (UK).
- Pronouncing the "v" as "b": Some may pronounce "river" with a "b" sound, saying "riber". This alters the word completely. Tip: Focus on the vibration of your vocal cords when saying the "v" sound, as in IPA /ˈrɪvər/ (US) and /ˈrɪvə/ (UK).
- Overemphasizing the "er": Some learners may pronounce "river" with an exaggerated "er" sound, making it sound like "riv-er". This can sound unnatural. Tip: Keep the "er" sound short and soft, as indicated in IPA /ˈrɪvər/ (US) and /ˈrɪvə/ (UK).
- Confusing with "liver": Mixing up "river" with "liver" by altering the vowel sound can lead to errors. Tip: Pay attention to the vowel sound in "river", which is /ɪ/, while "liver" uses /ɪ/.