Pronunciation Problems for Hungarians

Common Pronunciation Challenges

1. Th Sounds (/θ/ and /ð/)

In English, the "th" sounds are common but do not exist in Hungarian. Hungarian speakers often replace these sounds with /s/, /z/, or /d/.

• Examples:

  • "Think" may become "sink" or "tink".

  • "This" may become "zis" or "dis".

Tip: To pronounce /θ/, place your tongue between your teeth and blow air out gently. For /ð/, do the same but use your vocal cords to make a sound.

2. V and W

Hungarian does not distinguish between the /v/ and /w/ sounds, leading to confusion.

• Examples:

  • "Very" may sound like "wery".

  • "Wine" may sound like "vine".

Tip: Practice by exaggerating the lip positions. For /v/, the upper teeth touch the lower lip. For /w/, round your lips like you are about to whistle.

3. Short and Long Vowel Sounds

Hungarian vowels are relatively consistent, but English has both short and long vowel sounds that can be tricky.

• Examples:

  • "Ship" (short i) vs. "Sheep" (long e).

  • "Bit" (short i) vs. "Beat" (long e).

Tip: Practice minimal pairs (words that differ by only one sound) to train your ear and mouth. Record yourself and listen to the differences.

4. Silent Letters

Hungarian pronunciation is mostly phonetic, meaning words are pronounced as they are spelled. English, however, has many silent letters.

• Examples:

  • The "k" in "knight" is silent.

  • The "b" in "doubt" is silent.

Tip: Familiarize yourself with common silent letters and practice reading aloud. Over time, these silent letters will become more natural.

5. Intonation and Stress

Hungarian is syllable-timed, meaning each syllable gets equal emphasis. English is stress-timed, meaning certain syllables are stressed more than others.

• Examples:

  • "ReCORD" (noun) vs. "REcord" (verb).

  • "CONtract" (noun) vs. "conTRACT" (verb).

---

Practice Section

Let's practice some of the tricky sounds with a few sentences. Try reading these aloud:

1. "This is a very thin thing."

2. "Sheep are in the ship."

3. "Knightly duties are tough."

4. "I record the contract carefully."

Remember, improving pronunciation takes time and patience. Keep practicing, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. Each mistake is a step towards better pronunciation. Happy learning!