Use this exercise to help improve your pronunciation of difficult consonant sounds. Begin by listening to the audio and repeat the words after the speaker. Then, go through each of the words again on your own and read them aloud. For added practice, record yourself reading the words and listen to see if your pronunciation sounds like the speaker in the recording.

LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

The following consonants are often difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce. Listen to the audio and practice the phrases.

J / Y

1. Jello / yellow
2. joke / yoke
3. badge / bay
4. jam / yam
5. Stop joking around.
6. What’s mine is yours.
7. paper jam
8. younger

J / Z

1. June/ Zune
2. gyp / zip
3. budge / buzz
4. Just pay attention.
5. The buzz is huge.
6. job market
7. prize money

CH / J

1. cheer / jeer
2. cheap / Jeep
3. rich / ridge
4. March / Marge
5. The job market is tough.
6. Cheaters never win in the end.
7. batch
8. badge

T / CH

1. tease / cheese
2. time / chime
3. bought / botch
4. kitten / kitchen
5. Time is money.
6. Choose the best.
7. bottom out
8. cheap labor

More Practice
Try these related pages to help you practice pronouncing individual sounds:
More Difficult Consonants Practice B
More Difficult Consonants Practice C

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