H Sound Pronunciation Guide: Master the English /h/ Sound

Common Words with /h/

Basic H Words

Question Words with H

Body Parts

Home and Family

Actions

When H Is Silent

Not all H's are pronounced! Here are the main patterns:

Silent H at the Beginning

These words start with a silent H:

• hour /aʊr/ - "an hour" (not "a hour")
• honest /ˈɑnɪst/ - "an honest person"
• honor /ˈɑnər/ - "an honor"
• heir /ɛr/ - "an heir"
• herb /ɜːrb/ (American) or /hɜːrb/ (British)

Silent H in the Middle

• rhythm /ˈrɪðəm/
• vehicle /ˈviːɪkəl/ (often silent)
• ghost /ɡoʊst/ (gh is silent)
• what /wɑt/ (wh → w in American English)

The "WH" Pattern

In most American accents:

• what = /wɑt/ (h is silent)
• where = /wɛr/ (h is silent)
• when = /wɛn/ (h is silent)
• why = /waɪ/ (h is silent)
• which = /wɪtʃ/ (h is silent)

But who = /huː/ (h is pronounced!)

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Dropping the H Completely

Spanish speakers' #1 mistake!

Wrong: "I live in a ouse" (sounds like "ouse") Correct: "I live in a house" /haʊs/

Wrong: "Ow are you?" Correct: "How are you?" /haʊ/

Mistake 2: Adding H Where It Doesn't Belong

Some learners overcorrect and add /h/ to words starting with vowels!

Wrong: "I hate an happle" Correct: "I ate an apple"

Mistake 3: Making It Too Strong

The English /h/ is gentle—not harsh or throat-clearing.

Wrong: A strong, guttural sound (like clearing throat) Correct: A soft breath of air

Mistake 4: Confusing "A" and "An"

Use "a" before /h/ sounds, but "an" before silent H:

• "a house" ✓ (h is pronounced)
• "an hour" ✓ (h is silent)
• "a hospital" ✓ (h is pronounced)
• "an honest" ✓ (h is silent)

Practice Technique: The Paper Test

Hold a piece of paper or tissue in front of your mouth:

• Say "house" - the paper should move slightly
• Say "ate" - the paper shouldn't move much

If the paper moves when you say H words, you're making the sound correctly!

Practice Sentences

Focus on the /h/ sounds in bold:

1. Hello, how are you doing today?

2. He has a big house on the hill.

3. I hope you're happy with your new home.

4. Her husband is in the hospital.

5. Can you help me find my hat?

6. I heard a horrible noise in the hallway.

7. The hungry horse ate some hay.

8. His heart is full of hope and happiness.

Tongue Twisters

1. "Harry the horse hurried home to the hillside."

2. "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?" (Note: "would" has silent H in some accents)

3. "Happy hippos hop and hide behind the huge hedge."

4. "He heard her heart hammering hard."

5. "Hundred hungry hens hurried to the henhouse."

H Sound in Connected Speech

In fast, casual speech, /h/ is often weakened or dropped in unstressed words:

Function Words (often weakened):

• "I saw him" → might sound like "I saw 'im"
• "Give her the book" → might sound like "Give 'er the book"
• "What do you have?" → might sound like "What do you 'ave?"

But: In careful or emphasized speech, always pronounce the /h/!

Content Words (always pronounced):

• "house" - always /haʊs/
• "happy" - always /ˈhæpi/
• "help" - always /hɛlp/

H Sound Practice by Position

Word-Initial H (Beginning)

H After Consonants (in compounds)

Quick Reference Chart

Why the H Sound Matters

1. Meaning changes: "hate" vs. "ate" are completely different words
2. Articles change: "a house" vs. "an hour"
3. Natural speech: Dropping H makes English sound foreign
4. Common words: "have," "he," "her," "his" are some of the most frequent words in English

Tips for Spanish Speakers

1. Unlearn the silent H: In English, H is usually pronounced!
2. Think of "breathing": The /h/ is just a breath before the vowel
3. Don't substitute /x/: English /h/ is softer than Spanish "j"
4. Practice minimal pairs: "ate/hate," "eat/heat," "air/hair"
5. Listen carefully: Pay attention to H sounds in movies and songs

Master the /h/ sound, and your English will sound much more natural!