Learn How to Pronounce speak
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How to pronounce:
speak
Phonetic Transcription:
spiːk
Examples:
They speak the Lombard language.
The language that infants speak is called babbling.
Adnos listens to the grownups speak and hears the child in them whimper.
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How to perfect your pronunciation of: speak
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Common mistakes of speak pronunciation
- Misplacing the vowel sound: Some learners pronounce "speak" with an incorrect vowel, sounding like "spik". The correct pronunciation is /spiːk/ (UK) and /spik/ (US). Tip: Focus on elongating the "ee" sound.
- Ignoring the initial consonant cluster: A common mistake is to omit the "sp" sound, leading to "eak". The correct pronunciation starts with /sp/. Tip: Practice saying "sp" as in "spoon" to strengthen this sound.
- Incorrect stress placement: Some may incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "speak" as "speak". The correct stress is on the first syllable: /ˈspiːk/ (UK) and /ˈspik/ (US). Tip: Emphasize the "s" and "p" sounds to maintain proper stress.
- Overemphasizing the "k" sound: Learners might pronounce "speak" with an exaggerated "k", making it sound like "speek". The correct ending is softer: /spiːk/ (UK) and /spik/ (US). Tip: Keep your tongue relaxed when pronouncing the final sound.
- Confusing with similar words: Some confuse "speak" with "squeak", leading to mispronunciation. "Speak" is pronounced /spiːk/ (UK) and /spik/ (US), while "squeak" is /skwiːk/. Tip: Pay attention to the initial consonant sounds to differentiate between them.