SELL vs. SALE | American English pronounciation | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Learn the difference between the vowel pair "sell" and "sale" and how to pronounce them correctly.

Key Insights

• 🔇 Some speakers lack the "a" sound in their native language, making it difficult to distinguish between "sell" and "sale".
• 👂 The "e" in "sell" is a continuous sound, while the "a" in "sale" involves a shift in tongue position, creating a different vowel sound.
• 👂 Adding a "y" sound at the end of "sale" can help with pronouncing the correct sound.
• 👶 It is normal for the new pronunciation to feel forced initially, but with practice, it will become more natural.
• 💄 Making a clear distinction between "sell" and "sale" is crucial for accurate communication.
• 🤩 Practice is key to mastering the correct pronunciation of the vowel pair.
• ✳️ It is better to overemphasize the distinction at first rather than risk being misunderstood.

Transcript

hello guys it's Hadar and today we're going to talk about the vowel pair sell versus sale as my friend subscriber JY Ka asked me to explain all right so the a versus the a sell sale get gate now for some speakers this is not a big deal you're probably listening and saying what's the problem get versus gate but for some speakers and I get you guys t... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do some speakers have trouble differentiating between "sell" and "sale"?

Some speakers may not have the vowel sound "a" in their native language, leading to a tendency to pronounce it as a neutral "a" sound.

Q: How can I pronounce "sale" correctly?

Think of adding a "y" sound at the end, so it becomes "s-ey-l," helping to close the jaw and push the tongue forward.

Q: Is it normal for the pronunciation to feel forced at first?

Yes, it's common for any new pronunciation to feel artificial initially, but with practice, it will become more natural.

Q: Why is making a clear distinction between "sell" and "sale" important?

Clear distinction avoids confusion and ensures accurate communication. Over time, the forced pronunciation will become more natural.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Some speakers struggle with distinguishing between the vowel sounds in words like "sell" and "sale".

• The "e" in "sell" is a clean, continuous sound, while the "a" in "sale" involves a shift in tongue and mouth position.

• Adding a "y" sound at the end of "sale" can help with pronouncing the correct tongue and jaw position.