# Which pronunciation to practise

Use the [Standard English](https://clear-english.rw/guide/standard-english.md) examples for practice, and the American examples to build your listening skills.

> **Your goal:**
>
> When you speak English, people understand you the first time.

## Quick answers

| Sound | Example | American | Standard English (say this) | How to check | Rule |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| _t_ between vowels | water, better | **waa**-dər, **be**-dər [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/qa-t-vowels.mp3?v=0bc452711fbd) (tapped _t_) | **woo**-tə, **be**-tə [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/qa-t-vowels.mp3?v=c4bc8ea42574) (full _t_) | Your tongue stops the air completely | [Rule 1](https://clear-english.rw/rules/say-every-t.md) |
| _t_ after n | twenty, internet | **twe**-ni, **i**-nər-net [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/qa-t-after-n.mp3?v=4ba8ee5644f5) (_t_ often dropped) | **twen**-ti, **in**-tə-net [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/qa-t-after-n.mp3?v=ac3ae6c84562) (full _t_) | You hear a _t_ between the n and the vowel after it | [Rule 1](https://clear-english.rw/rules/say-every-t.md) |
| _r_ after a vowel | car, hard | kaar, haard [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/qa-r-after-vowel.mp3?v=4116b27ec242) (_r_ said) | kaa, haad [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/qa-r-after-vowel.mp3?v=de77f806da19) (_r_ silent) | You go straight from aa to the next sound, with no _r_ | [Rule 4](https://clear-english.rw/rules/drop-the-r.md) |
| The vowel in work | work, first | wərk, fərst [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/qa-work-vowel.mp3?v=f2997a2c1654) | wəək, fəəst [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/qa-work-vowel.mp3?v=80197084ea7f) | Hold the vowel longer, match the recording, and leave out the _r_ | [Rule 4](https://clear-english.rw/rules/drop-the-r.md) |
| The vowel in hot | hot, job | haat, jaab [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/qa-hot-vowel.mp3?v=c3e1e85838b5) | hot, job [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/qa-hot-vowel.mp3?v=6c671a5dda9e) | Start from a short Kinyarwanda o, then match the recording | [Rule 5](https://clear-english.rw/rules/short-o.md) |
| can't | can't | kant [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/qa-cant.mp3?v=0f2541bbe107) (_t_ often hard to hear) | kaant [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/qa-cant.mp3?v=426acd5a1de4) (or say 'cannot') | Match the aa sound and length to the recording, then say a full _t_ | [Rule 6](https://clear-english.rw/rules/long-vowels.md) |
| _r_ and _l_ | right, light | the same in both styles | right, light [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/qa-r-l.mp3?v=6bb975565dd1) | _l_: the tongue tip touches the ridge and stays. _r_: keep the tip clear of the ridge and roof of your mouth | [Rule 3](https://clear-english.rw/rules/r-and-l.md) |
| -teen and -ty | thirteen, thirty | thər-**tiin**, **thər**-di [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/qa-teen-ty.mp3?v=7e65f8dc45f5) | thəə-**tiin**, **thəə**-ti [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/qa-teen-ty.mp3?v=a68f5a8ec2b7) | -teen: last syllable stressed, long ii. -ty: first syllable stressed, full _t_ | [Rule 2](https://clear-english.rw/rules/thirteen-vs-thirty.md) |

So for twenty: say _**twen**-ti_, with a full _t_ (your tongue stops the air completely before the i). Americans often say _**twe**-ni_; listen and compare the two.

Need a reminder? See [how to read the sound spellings](https://clear-english.rw/guide/get-started.md).

---

From Clear English Rwanda: https://clear-english.rw/guide/which-style

Previous: [Get started](https://clear-english.rw/guide/get-started.md) · Next: [1. Use a clear *t*](https://clear-english.rw/rules/say-every-t.md) · All pages: https://clear-english.rw/llms.txt