Pronouncing t/d, p/b, f/v and s/z sounds

The difference between t/d, p/b, f/v and s/z is that t, p, f, and s sounds are produced by the air but d, b, v and z sounds are produced by the throat.  You can touch your throat to distinguish between the sounds.
La diferencia entre los sonidos de t/d, p/b, f/v, y s/z es que los sonidos de d, b, p y s son producidos por el aire pero producimos d, b, v, y z por la garganta.  Puede tocar la garganta para distinguir entre los sonidos.

t (se aspira) – d (sonoro)

t

La lengua toca el punto medio del paladar. Cuando exhala, abre la boca. [Fíjate: no está la parte delantera del paladar – eso produce el sonido de “th” en inglés]

take  
top
task
ten
tomorrow
mistake

It is important to pronounce the 't' at the end of a word.

tent – ten
went – when
wait – way
can't – can

d

La lengua toca el punto medio del paladar pero esta vez, es con sonido.

date
middle
ended 
difficult
did 
don't

It is important to pronounce the 'd' at the end of a word:

played – play 
called – call 
band – ban 


Listen to these examples and try to repeat them:

Take the day to drive to Denmark but don't drink and don't delay.

Don't try to train the ten dogs today, wait until tomorrow.

Doctors don't take time to drink tea.

Twenty tiny tables with twenty tiny tablecloths.




Ten twos plus ten twos less ten makes fifteen twos.

p (se aspira) – b (sonoro)

p

Labios juntos, boca cerrada y exhala cuando abre la boca. [Fíjate: la lengua esta relajada, no está tocando los dientes]

park  
price 
play 
put 
pig
appear

It is important to know the difference between 'p' and 'b'

pig – big 
park – bark 
pill – bill

b

Labios juntos, boca cerrada y exhala pero esta vez, cuando abre la loca, es con sonido.

bark
big
broken
brother
book
black

Sometimes, the 'b' is silent, especially at the end of a word after 'm'.  Sometimes it is silent within a word.

climb  
dumb 
limb 
debt
doubt
subtle

Examples:

Please don't break the pretty purple plates.



The parents are playing with the pretty bright blue ball on the beach.



Please buy plain bread from Paul the baker.



But Peter bought peppers from Bill.



He parked his bus near the park.

f (se aspira) – v (sonoro)

f

El labio inferior entre los dientes pero muy ligeramente – ¡pero no lo muerde! Exhala muy suavamente. El sonido se produce por el aire, no la garganta.

fish
fun
friend
five
different
leaf

It is important to know the difference between 'f' and 'v'

leaf – leave
lift – lived
safe – save

v

El labio inferior entre los dientes otra vez (¡no lo muerde!) y exhala muy suavamente pero el sonido se produce por la garganta.

very
view
vet
van
involve
invite

We need to know the difference between 'v' and 'b'

very – berry
vet – bet
van – ban
vote – boat

Examples:

I feel very fine after finding five forgotten friends.



It's very good fun to eat food with different friends.



The very famous vet vanished.



Have you found the photos you saved from the fiesta.



Vote for every form of food that you prefer.

s (se aspira) – z (sonoro)

s

Se pronuncia como la 's' española pero con mayor fuerza. El sonido se produce por el aire, no la garganta.

see
sun
soon
simple
second
still
makes

In the middle or at the end of words, the 's' can sound like a 'z' (but not always).

close
advise
ends 
wise

z

El sonido es como la 's' pero es sonoro.

zoo
zero 
crazy
lazy
things 
days 
erase

Examples:

See the sun shine soon, it'll soon be Summer.



Seven sisters saw six ships sailing on the sea.



He saw seven snakes in the zoo as it was closing.



Lazy people sometimes do crazy things to save time.



He says that some days he doesn't want to work so he stays home.

Solo por referencia – 's' and 'z' sounds at the end of words

/iz/ when the word ends in s, z, sh, zh, ch, j wishes, churches, roses

/z/ when word ends in m, n, ng, l, b, d, g, v, th (hard), r calls, beds, lives, dogs

/s/ when word ends in p, t, k, f, th (soft) cups, clocks, cats