English Pronunciation: How to pronounce numbers

TL;DR

Learn how to pronounce numbers in English, specifically the teens and tens, with emphasis on the difference in pronunciation and proper intonation.

Transcript

Hi there. Welcome to more pronunciation. Today we're going to talk about numbers. I really don't like numbers and they kind of confuse me. That's why I'm an English teacher, not a math teacher. But I can teach you how to say them. I'm going to teach you two kinds of numbers that are very difficult in English. The reason why is, in your language, yo... Read More

Key Insights

• 👂 Pronouncing numbers correctly in English can be challenging due to the similarity in sounds.
• 👂 The teens require emphasizing the "teen" sound, while the tens should be said more rapidly.
• 👂 Some helpful techniques for remembering the pronunciation include associating the tens with their corresponding single-digit numbers.
• 🐲 The pronunciation of "thirteen" is longer and dragged out compared to "thirty."
• 🖐️ Proper intonation and emphasis play a crucial role in pronouncing numbers accurately.
• 🎮 The video suggests visiting engvid.com for additional quizzes on numbers.
• 🧑‍🏫 The speaker humorously mentions being better at teaching English pronunciation than math.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why are numbers difficult to pronounce in English?

Numbers can be challenging in English because, unlike in some other languages, the pronunciation of adjacent numbers is very similar, making it important to focus on specific sounds and intonation.

Q: How should I pronounce the teens in English?

To pronounce the teens correctly, you should emphasize the "teen" sound at the end of each number, such as "thir-teen," "four-teen," and so on.

Q: What is the difference between the tens and teens in English pronunciation?

The teens have a dragged-out "teen" sound at the end, while the tens should be pronounced more rapidly, resembling the word "ten." For example, "thir-ty" versus "thir-teen" and "for-ty" versus "four-teen."

Q: How can I remember the pronunciation of the tens numbers?

To remember the pronunciation of tens numbers, you can associate them with their corresponding single-digit numbers. For example, "four-ty" matches with "four," "six-ty" matches with "six," and so on.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video focuses on teaching the pronunciation of numbers in English, particularly the teens and tens.

• Emphasizing the difference between the word "teen" and the word "ten" in pronunciation is crucial.

• The teens should be pronounced with a dragged-out "teen" sound, while the tens should be said more rapidly.