LISTEN
listen_to_-h-.mp3
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/h/.../h/.../h/.../h/...

help...hand...ahead...reheat

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation:
The sound /h/ is a voiceless, glottal, fricative consonant:
  • ​Your tongue doesn't need to touch any part of your mouth
  • Breathe out sharply. A short burst of air should come out of your mouth, leading into the next sound.
  • Your vocal cords should not vibrate.

Spelling:
  • /h/ - help, ahead
  • /wh/ - who, whole

Note: The letter "h" is the most common spelling of /h/. However, the letter "h" can also be silent (as in "hour") or can combine with another letter to indicate another sound. (For example, "sh"  = /ʃ/, "th" = /θ/ or /ð/)
​
​Grammar Tip: 
The sound /h/ is in several English pronouns:
grammar_-h-_1.mp3
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  • he, him, her
  • his, hers
  • himself, herself.

In informal American English speech, it is common to drop the /h/ from these pronouns. Listen to the difference:
grammar_-h-_2.mp3
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1. Formal: I met her. 
2. Formal. Where did he go? 
3. Formal: He forgot his bag.
Informal: I met 'er.
​Informal: Where did 'e go?
​Informal: 'E forgot 'is bag.

COMPARE
Compare /h/ with /k/:
compare_h-k_1.mp3
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/h/.../k/.../h/.../k/.../h/.../k/...

These are both voiceless consonants pronounced in the back of the mouth.  However, /h/ is a glottal fricative and /k/ is a velar stop . The sound /k/ is pronounced with the back of your tongue, while /h/ is pronounced with the glottis, which is behind your tongue.

You can hear the difference between /h/ and /k/ in these words.
compare_h-k_words.mp3
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1. ​A. height, B. kite
2. A. hill, B. kill
3. A. hand, B. canned
4. A. how, B. cow
​5. A. heap, B. keep
​6. A. hole, B. coal 

Practice recognizing words with /h/ and /k/ by taking the quiz below.

Now, compare /h/ and /w/:
compare_h-w_1.mp3
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/h/.../w/.../h/.../w/.../h/.../w/...

These are both consonants without friction - no part of your tongue should touch a part of your mouth. However, /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative and /w/ is a voiced labio-velar approximant. When you pronounce /h/, your lips should be in a neutral, unrounded position, but when you start to pronounce /w/, your lips should be round.

You can hear the difference between /h/ and /w/ in these words.
compare_h-w_words.mp3
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1. A. high, B. why
2. A. hot, B. watt
3. A. who, B. woo
​4. A. hitch, B. which
5. A. hair, B. wear
6. A. hurry, B. worry

Practice recognizing words with /h/ and /w/ by taking the quiz below.

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-h-.mp3
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1. height
2. hall
3. home
4. help
5. heater
6. hurry
7. history
8. whole
9. who
10.  humor
11. hurry
12. perhaps
13. behavior
14. ahead
15. beh​ind
16. reheat
17. abhor
18. unhelpful
19. uphill
20. homogenous
. 
Now, practice /h/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
sentences_with_-h-.mp3
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1. hear - him - help
Did you hear him ask for help?
2. have - hurry - h​ome
We have to hurry home.
3. house - behind - hill
My house is just behind that hill.
4. he - hurt - himself - hockey
He hurt himself by playing hockey.
5. hope - happy - how
I hope you're happy with how your English is improving.
6. perhaps - husband - her
​Perhaps her husband is with her.

To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:

USE IT!
​​Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.

Prepare:
If you see a homeless man on the street, and he asks for help, what will you do?
  • Hide your wallet
  • Help him find housing
  • Hand him money
  • Ask him how he became homeless
  • Hear his story
  • Call for help
  • Have lunch with him

Record:
In your recording, explain how you think people should respond to a homeless person, and why.

©2018-2021, Christine Wingate