American Accent Decoded

Your first language

The American accent for Tamil speakers

Your English is already good. If Tamil is your first language, these are the American patterns worth your time first, and why.

Start with these patterns

Tamil has no T with air, and you may say every vowel in full and roll the R.

  1. T, P and K start with air

    start + T · P · K → with air

    Without the air, time can sound like dime.

  2. Any vowel can become “uh”

    vowel in a quick part → uh

    An -le at the end sounds like “uhl”: table.

  3. R is never rolled

    R touches nothingD touches once

    If your tongue tip touches, even once, hiring sounds like hiding.

    If you speak Tamil, your ர touches once. The English R touches nothing: very, sorry.

Then, for clear pronunciation

Thirteen or thirty can change a price, and these pairs can sound alike: V and W, three and tree.

  1. Thirteen or thirty?

    -teen → strong-ty → quick

    In -teen, the T is clear. In -ty, it often becomes a quick D, one fast touch.

  2. Very or berry?

    V teeth on lipB both lipsW round lips

    If both lips close, very sounds like berry. If they round, vine sounds like wine.

  3. Three or tree?

    TH tongue outno TH T, D, S or Z: behind teeth

    For TH, put your tongue tip between your teeth and let the air out. If the tongue stops the air, three sounds like tree.

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