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How to Pronounce: The /h/ sound as in Hello

Video vocabulary

little

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US / 'lɪtl /

UK / ˈlɪtl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being short in length of time
  • Not great in size, amount, or degree; small
  • Being very young or younger than others
  • adverb
  • By an amount or degree that is not very much
  • Not often; rarely
  • noun
  • A person's name

let

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US / let /

UK / lɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To allow someone to do something
  • Introducing a suggestion to do something together
  • To rent a house, etc. to others

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

john

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US / dʒɔn /

UK / dʒɑn /

A1
  • noun
  • A toilet.
  • A prostitute's client.
  • proper noun
  • (1165–1216), son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine; king of England 1199–1216; known as John Lack
  • The name of six kings of Portugal.

other

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US / 'ʌðə(r) /

UK / ˈʌðər /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A thing different from that mentioned
  • determiner
  • (Something) else; not the first (one)
  • pronoun
  • Being the one and only thing of that category

follow

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US / ˈfɔləu /

UK / ˈfɑlo /

A1
  • verb
  • To come after someone; be guided by someone
  • To support someone, e.g. singer or comedian
  • To be the logical result of something
  • To happen after something else happens
  • To believe a set of values or a moral teacher
  • To understand something happening or being said

lip

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US / lɪp /

UK / lɪp /

A2
  • noun
  • Edge of a hole or container
  • Top and bottom part of the outside of your mouth

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

word

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US / wɜ:d /

UK / wɚd /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of language that has a meaning
  • Promise
  • Short remark or piece of information
  • verb
  • To express something by choosing particular words

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

kind

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US / kaɪnd /

UK / kaɪnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • In a caring and helpful manner
  • friendly and considerate
  • noun
  • One type of thing

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

make

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US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • noun
  • Product made by a particular company; brand
  • verb
  • To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
  • To get to (a place) on time
  • To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
  • To create something by putting things together
  • To earn a certain amount of money at a job
  • To cause or force a person to do something
  • To cause something to happen or be formed

begin

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US / bɪ'ɡɪn /

UK / ˈbeɡɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To do the first part of an action; to start

overall

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US / ˌəʊvər'ɔ:l /

UK / ˈovɚˌrɔl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Viewed as a whole; in general, not as details

sound

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US / saʊnd /

UK / saʊnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Sensible, dependable and reliable
  • Unbroken or undisturbed, as of sleep
  • Firm or solid in structure
  • Sane; not mentally ill
  • Clearly reasoned; involving sense, good judgment
  • noun
  • Unique quality that characterizes a style of music
  • Waves traveling in air or water that can be heard
  • verb
  • To seem or appear to be, from what was said
  • To say in a clear deliberate manner
  • To make a noise, e.g. to ring a bell

consonant

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US / ˈkɒnsənənt /

UK / ˈkɑnsənənt /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Music (of a note) in harmony
  • noun
  • A speech sound or letter that is not a vowel
  • Spoken sound made by stopping the flow of air
  • Sound in a word that is not a vowel, e.g. t or n

fully

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US / 'fʊlɪ /

UK / ˈfʊli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely or entirely

talk

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US / tɔ:k /

UK / tɔk /

A1
  • noun
  • Style of speaking
  • Discussion between two countries
  • Giving information in front of people; lecture
  • Saying things or ideas to someone with words
  • verb
  • To make a formal speech about something
  • To say things or ideas to someone with words

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

hello

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US / hə'ləʊ /

UK / hɛˈlo, hə- /

A1
  • exclamation
  • What you say when you meet someone

time

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US / taɪm /

UK / taɪm /

A1
  • noun
  • Speed at which music is played; tempo
  • Point as shown on a clock, e.g. 3 p.m
  • Number of hours, minutes needed to do something
  • Occasion when something happens
  • Period or occasion that something occurred
  • Period in history or the past
  • Something measured in minutes, hours, days, etc.
  • How long an event takes; duration
  • verb
  • To check speed at which music is performed
  • To choose a specific moment to do something
  • To measure how long an event takes, e.g. a race
  • To schedule something to occur at a specific moment

restrict

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US / rɪ'strɪkt /

UK / rɪˈstrɪkt /

A2
  • verb
  • To prevent a person from doing something

specifically

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US / spəˈsɪfɪkli /

UK / spəˈsɪfɪkli /

A2
  • adverb
  • As regards a particular thing; closely related to
  • In particular

well

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US / wel /

UK / wɛl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
  • Healthy and in good condition
  • adverb
  • In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
  • In a complete, total, or full manner
  • A great and considerable degree
  • In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
  • exclamation
  • Used to begin or continue a particular statement
  • Used to show you want to start saying something
  • Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
  • You say this to change the topic of a conversation
  • Used to indicate you are making a final remark
  • noun
  • Long deep hole in the ground to get water
  • verb
  • To cause your eyes to fill with tears

depend

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US / dɪˈpend /

UK / dɪˈpend /

B1
  • verb
  • Be controlled or determined by (someone/something)

friction

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US / ˈfrɪkʃn /

UK / ˈfrɪkʃən /

B2
  • noun
  • Disagreement between two or more people
  • Force preventing motion between bodies in contact

would

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US / wʊd /

UK / wʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate something imagined
  • Used to ask or request something politely
  • Verb used to indicate possibility, request etc.
  • Used to indicate a preference
  • Used to indicate a reaction
  • Indicates something that occurred repeatedly
  • Used to indicate willingness or ability to do

can

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US / kæn /

UK / kən,kæn /

A1
  • noun
  • A metal container for storing food
  • other
  • Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
  • verb
  • To have permission to
  • To be possible to do
  • To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container

breathe

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US / bri:ð /

UK / brið /

A2
  • verb
  • To move air into and out of your lungs
  • To say something very softly
  • To stop moving so one can rest

halo

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US / 'heɪləʊ /

UK / ˈhelo /

B2
  • noun
  • Circle of light

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

now

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US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
  • Right away or in the next possible moment
  • Used to refer to something that just happened
  • Time between the present and a moment in the past
  • conjunction
  • Resulting from or because of something

but

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US / bət /

UK / bʌt,bət /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used before you say something different, opposite

english

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US / ˈɪŋglɪʃ /

UK / ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of England
  • noun
  • Language of the UK, USA, Nigeria and elsewhere
  • Person's name

good

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US / ɡʊd /

UK / ɡʊd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper, appropriate or right
  • (Of an amount) enough; plenty
  • Excellent; high quality
  • Acting well or properly; of moral character
  • In a positive or happy emotional state
  • noun
  • Advantage or benefit

yet

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US / jet /

UK / jɛt /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a later time (used after ‘not’)
  • (Used to emphasize that thing is, will be greater)
  • Eventually; at a future time
  • Until now; up to the present
  • conjunction
  • Adding to what has been said, often as a contrast

mouth

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US / maʊθ /

UK / maʊθ /

A1
  • noun
  • Hole in the face used for eating and talking
  • Opening of a container such as a bottle
  • Area where a river enters a large body of water
  • verb
  • To say words without speaking

air

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US / eə(r) /

UK / er /

A1
  • noun
  • Mixture of gases around the earth that we breathe
  • A person's manner intended to impress others
  • verb
  • To expose to the outside, to dry or freshen
  • To broadcast a TV or radio show
  • To open a subject to discussion and debate

hear

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US / hɪə(r) /

UK / hɪr /

A1
  • verb
  • To be aware of sound; to perceive with the ear
  • To be told or find out information or facts
  • To consider or listen to a court case

everyday

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US / ˈevrideɪ /

UK / ˈɛvriˈde /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used or seen daily; for daily use; ordinary

almost

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US / 'ɔ:lməʊst /

UK / ˈɔlˌmost, ɔlˈmost /

A1
  • adverb
  • Only a little less than, nearly, not quite

careful

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US / ˈkeəfl /

UK / ˈkerfl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Trying not to make mistakes; working slowly

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

explore

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US / ɪk'splɔ:(r) /

UK / ɪkˈsplɔr /

A2
  • verb
  • To examine something in detail to learn about it
  • To travel to a place to discover more about it

vowel

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US / ˈvaʊəl /

UK / ˈvaʊəl /

B1
  • noun
  • A speech sound; a, e , it, o, u and sometimes y

consider

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US / kən'sɪdə(r) /

UK / kənˈsɪdər /

A1
  • verb
  • To think carefully about something

flow

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US / fləʊ /

UK / flo /

A2
  • noun
  • Amount of something that moves through an area
  • verb
  • To move steadily and easily in a certain direction

greet

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US / gri:t /

UK / ɡrit /

B1
  • verb
  • To meet with friendly words and actions; welcome

should

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US / ʃʊd /

UK / ʃʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate what is proper or reasonable

series

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US / ˈsɪəri:z /

UK / ˈsɪriz /

A1
  • noun
  • Set of stories or articles on a particular subject
  • other
  • Number of things that happen one after another

position

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US / pəˈzɪʃn /

UK / pəˈzɪʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's opinion or attitude about something
  • Specific location where someone or something is
  • Where you play or your role on a sports team
  • Person's job or status level
  • Set of conditions affecting what you can (not) do
  • verb
  • To put in a particular location or direction

sure

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US / ʃʊə(r) /

UK / ʃʊr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Having no doubts about something
  • Have confidence in your own words or actions
  • Firmly established or held; being firm or stable
  • Being correct or true
  • adverb
  • What you say to agree willingly

while

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US / waɪl /

UK / hwaɪl, waɪl /

A1
  • conjunction
  • In spite of the fact that; although
  • During the time that; at the same time
  • noun
  • Short amount of time

after

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US / 'ɑ:ftə(r) /

UK / ˈæftɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Later than another time, or behind something
  • conjunction
  • Following something before
  • preposition
  • When an event happened or time has passed

episode

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US / 'epɪsəʊd /

UK / ˈɛpɪˌsod /

B1
  • noun
  • One separate event in a series of events
  • Show which is part of a larger story

keep

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US / ki:p /

UK / kip /

A1
  • noun
  • Large, strong tower in the middle of a castle
  • Money spent on you so you can live in a place
  • verb
  • To continue doing something; not to stop
  • To stop balls going in a goal in sports
  • To not give back or return something
  • (Of food) to not spoil or not rot
  • To take possession of something to own, e.g. a pet
  • To have and continue to hold something
  • To do something that you have promised or agreed
  • To stay in a certain place or condition
  • To maintain the rules

think

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US / θɪŋk /

UK / θɪŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To have an idea about something without certainty
  • To have an idea, opinion or belief about something

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

form

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US / fɔ:m /

UK / fɔrm /

A1
  • noun
  • Sports team or person's current winning record
  • Document you complete when making an application
  • Visible shape or style; type; kind
  • verb
  • To organize something such as a club or group
  • To develop; to come into a shape or substance
  • To make something into a particular shape

out

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US / aʊt /

UK / aʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • No longer stylish (e.g. fashion)
  • Away from home, business, or the usual place
  • In a direction/movement away from inside or center
  • noun
  • Act when a batter cannot continue playing
  • verb
  • To tell people a secret

tense

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US / tens /

UK / tɛns /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Unable to relax; feeling nervous or stressed
  • Stretched tight and stiff
  • noun
  • The use of grammar to state the time things happen
  • verb
  • To tighten the muscles, a rope, etc.

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

back

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US / bæk /

UK / bæk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Farthest from the front e.g. in a classroom
  • adverb
  • Have returned to a place you were before
  • noun
  • The part of a chair that the upper body leans upon
  • Location at the rear of something
  • The reverse of side something
  • Area on the rear of your body
  • verb
  • To bet money on something
  • To go backwards in a car
  • To support and encourage someone or some cause

far

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US / fɑ:(r) /

UK / fɑr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A long way away
  • Being a long way away
  • adverb
  • To a large degree or extent

require

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US / rɪ'kwaɪə(r) /

UK / rɪˈkwaɪr /

A2
  • verb
  • To demand that someone does something
  • To need to do something, to make it necessary

about

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US / ə'baʊt /

UK / əˈbaʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • To be ready to; going to
  • Nearly; approximately; roughly
  • Near; next to; close to
  • In every direction; in the area of
  • preposition
  • Concerning or of (a topic)

different

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US / ˈdɪfrənt /

UK / ˈdɪfrənt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not of the same kind; unlike other things

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

practice

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US / 'præktɪs /

UK / ˈpræktɪs /

A2
  • noun
  • The office and place for legal or medical work
  • Doing something many times to become better at it
  • verb
  • To work as a doctor or lawyer
  • To live according to the teachings of a religion
  • To do something many times to improve a skill

similar

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US / ˈsɪmələ(r) /

UK / ˈsɪməlɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Nearly the same; alike

recommend

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US / ˌrekə'mend /

UK / ˌrɛkəˈmɛnd /

A2
  • verb
  • To advise or suggest that someone do something

russell

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US / ˈrʌsəl /

UK / ˈrʌsəl /

A1
  • noun
  • English film director (born in )

attention

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US / əˈtenʃn /

UK / əˈtɛnʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Taking notice of someone or something
  • (Soldiers) Standing with straight backs

bit

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US / bɪt /

UK / bɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
  • Small piece of something
  • verb
  • (E.g. of fish) to take bait and be caught

general

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US / 'dʒenrəl /

UK / ˈdʒɛnərəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Widespread, normal or usual
  • noun
  • Top ranked officer in the army

nature

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US / 'neɪtʃə(r) /

UK / ˈnetʃɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's character or particular way of behaving
  • Basic look, feel or function of something
  • Physical world, including plants, animals, rocks

pay

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US / peɪ /

UK / pe /

A1
  • noun
  • Money you receive from your job, work, etc.
  • verb
  • To give money for goods or work done
  • To give (attention, respect, etc.) to
  • To be punished or suffer for something you did
  • To make (a visit) to a person or place

speaker

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US / 'spi:kə(r) /

UK / ˈspikɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Electronic device for making or broadcasting sound
  • Person who makes a speech before a group

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

common

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US / 'kɒmən /

UK / ˈkɑmən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Shared; Belonging to or used by everyone
  • Typical, normal; not unusual
  • noun
  • Area in a city or town that is open to everyone
  • Field near a village owned by the local community

drop

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US / drɒp /

UK / drɑp /

A1
  • noun
  • Distance between a higher and a lower level
  • Act of letting something fall (from your hand)
  • A decrease in quantity or quality; reduction
  • Tiny amount of liquid, with rounded bottom
  • verb
  • To drive someone to a place and then drive away
  • To let something fall from your hand
  • To fall or lie down quickly, as when shot
  • To decide to stop something e.g. a course)
  • To (cause to) reduce in quantity or quality

produce

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US / prə'dju:s /

UK / prəˈdus, -ˈdjus, pro- /

A1
  • noun
  • Fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables
  • verb
  • To grow something naturally
  • To make something appear
  • To manufacture something using machines
  • To control the making a movie or television show

show

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US / ʃəʊ /

UK / ʃo /

A1
  • noun
  • False display of love, emotion or action
  • An event for displaying or promoting goods
  • Play, opera or theater production
  • Presentation that is broadcast on TV or radio
  • verb
  • To be easily seen or displayed
  • To display your emotions or feelings
  • To let someone see something; display
  • To explain or teach how something is done
  • To lead someone somewhere; point them to something
  • To prove something to be true, correct
  • To reveal or allow something to be seen

vocal

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US / ˈvəʊkl /

UK / ˈvoʊkl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Expressing an opinion publicly in a loud way
  • Concerning the voice

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

tongue

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US / tʌŋ /

UK / tʌŋ /

A2
  • noun
  • Long, thin part of (e.g. shoe under the laces)
  • Meat from the mouth of an animal, cooked as food
  • A language
  • Movable fleshy thing in your mouth, for tasting
  • Act of scolding someone
  • A specific manner of speaking
  • verb
  • To using your mouth to produce musical notes
  • To use your mouth to touch something

work

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US / wɜ:k /

UK / wɚk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Activity completed in order to make money
  • noun
  • The product of some artistic or literary endeavor
  • Everything created by an author, artist, musician
  • Activity you do in order to make money
  • Place of employment
  • Final product or result of a some labor or effort
  • verb
  • To bring into a specific state of success
  • To be functioning properly, e.g. a car
  • To do your job in your company or workplace
  • To make an effort to do something
  • To operate a machine or device

move

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US / mu:v /

UK / muv /

A1
  • noun
  • Act of moving a playing piece in chess, etc.
  • An action; doing something
  • Step taken to achieve a goal
  • verb
  • To cause someone to have certain emotions
  • To cause something to change to a different place
  • To change where people live or a business operates
  • To take action to do or achieve something

way

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US / weɪ /

UK / we /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to emphasize the amount of something
  • noun
  • Particular aspect of something being thought about
  • One of various choices that could be made
  • Particular existing condition or state
  • (Often long) distance or length of time
  • How something is done
  • Route to go to a place
  • Small street
  • Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone

take

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US / teɪk /

UK / tek /

A1
  • noun
  • Filming of a single scene for TV or the movies
  • verb
  • To accept something that is offered
  • To use a method of traveling, e.g. a bus or train
  • To use a camera to make (a photo)
  • To pick up something and go away with it
  • To study a subject in school
  • To attempt to pass (an exam)
  • To require a certain amount of time, money, space

clearly

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US / ˈklɪəlɪ /

UK / ˈklɪrlɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In a way that is easy to understand; obviously
  • Introduction to Video Content
  • How to Pronounce: The /h/ sound as in Hello
    Hello, I'm John Russell. So far in this series, we have talked about the vowel sounds of American English and the consonant sounds of American English. But we have not yet specifically talked about an unusual sound that you have heard in almost every episode. Every time I greet you to the show, I say the following word. Hello.
    Today, let's explore the sound at the beginning of this common everyday word, h. When you produce h, you breathe out. In general, your lips and tongue take whatever position is required to produce the vowel sound after it. In other words, h is a bit different depending on the nature of the following vowel.
    Think about these words. Hello. When I say hello, I form my lips and tongue in a way so that I can say the vowel sound e. Now consider this word, which is similar to hello. Halo. Note how my mouth moves to say the vowel after h, halo.
    Overall, when you make the h sound, your vocal cords are tense and restricted, but they do not move. The back of your tongue should be pushed back a little to create friction as the air flows out from the back of your mouth. While speakers of some kinds of English drop the h sound in some words, I would recommend pronouncing the h fully and clearly. So when you practice making the sound, be sure to pay careful attention to how you say the following vowel sounds as well.
    That's all for today. Keep up the good work.
  • Subtitles section
  • Hello, I'm John Russell.
  • So far in this series, we have talked about the vowel sounds of American English and the consonant sounds of American English.
  • But we have not yet specifically talked about an unusual sound that you have heard in almost every episode.
  • Every time I greet you to the show, I say the following word.
  • Hello.
  • Today, let's explore the sound at the beginning of this common everyday word, h.
  • When you produce h, you breathe out.
  • In general, your lips and tongue take whatever position is required to produce the vowel sound after it.
  • In other words, h is a bit different depending on the nature of the following vowel.
  • Think about these words.
  • Hello.
  • When I say hello, I form my lips and tongue in a way so that I can say the vowel sound e.
  • Now consider this word, which is similar to hello.
  • Halo.
  • Note how my mouth moves to say the vowel after h, halo.
  • Overall, when you make the h sound, your vocal cords are tense and restricted, but they do not move.
  • The back of your tongue should be pushed back a little to create friction as the air flows out from the back of your mouth.
  • While speakers of some kinds of English drop the h sound in some words, I would recommend pronouncing the h fully and clearly.
  • So when you practice making the sound, be sure to pay careful attention to how you say the following vowel sounds as well.
  • That's all for today.
  • Keep up the good work.