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Pronunciation
English Pronunciation for Filipino Speakers
For Filipino professionals, mastering proper English pronunciation is essential to build confidence and enhance career growth. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the major challenges hindering Filipinos from attaining English fluency— from direct translation errors to unique phonological differences. This guide also offers insights and practical tips to help Filipino learners articulate English sounds. 
December 29, 2023
Ron Carlos
Ron Carlos
Speech & Accent Coach at BoldVoice

In this article
Common Consonant Errors in English for Filipino Speakers

Difficult English Vowels for Filipino Speakers

Challenges in English Pronunciation for Filipino Speakers

How to Improve Your English Pronunciation

Mastering English Pronunciation for Filipino Speakers

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Filipino is a rich, unique language with a broad vocabulary, incorporating loanwords from languages like Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and English. Regardless, the language stands at opposite ends with the English language as they contrast in structure and composition. For example, the English language has 20 vowel sounds and around 24 consonant sounds. Filipino, on the other hand, has only 5 vowel sounds and 16 consonant sounds.



English is a global language that transcends borders and cultures, serving as a vital tool for communication, education, and career opportunities. For Filipinos interacting on the global scene, fluent English pronunciation is important for clear communication. Fluent pronunciation also boosts one’s confidence and shapes people’s perceptions of you, hence building strong social and professional relationships.



In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the main challenges in English pronunciation for Filipino speakers. Here, we focus on the standard Tagalog Filipino speech pattern. We will also provide American English vs Philippine English examples that give more context. To master these sounds and help you become articulate, we also provide tips and activities that you can engage in.

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Common Consonant Errors in English for Filipino Speakers
English consonant pronunciation can present common challenges for Filipino speakers due to differences in phonetic structures between the two languages. This section identifies specific consonant errors that are frequently encountered by Filipino learners, providing insights and practical tips to address and overcome these pronunciation hurdles.

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"D" or "T" instead of "Th" Sounds
Filipino speakers learning English often substitute the "D" or “T” sounds for the unvoiced and voiced "Th" sounds, respectively. This occurs because Tagalog lacks "Th" sounds, and the closest approximation to these sounds is the "D" or “T” sound. This substitution results in pronunciations like "day" for "they" and "wits" for "with.”

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Voiced "TH" Sound as in “These” and “Clothes”
The mechanism for pronouncing the voiced “TH” sound is simple. First, place the tip of your tongue between your upper and lower front teeth. Also, gently touch the upper front teeth with the tip of your tongue. The rest of your tongue rests comfortably in your mouth as air passes gently between your tongue and teeth. Remember to vibrate your vocal cords to achieve this sound. 




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Voiceless "th" Sound as in ”Think” and “Teeth”
This variation of the "th" sound is voiceless, meaning your vocal cords do not vibrate when producing this sound. It is a gentle sound you achieve by placing the tip of your tongue lightly against your upper front teeth. As you do this, allow a small gap for the airflow to create the sound.




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"R" Sound
Filipino speakers often trill the "R" sound, pronouncing it as "rrrun" instead of "run." This is because the Filipino language does not include the standard "R" sound that is present in the English language. Other times, they may substitute the “R” sound for “L” or use it interchangeably with “D." Hence, it is common for Filipino speakers to pronounce "red" as "led," and "refrigerator" might sound like "defrigerator."



The "R" sound is not trilled or rolled in English; it's produced by placing the tip of the tongue against the raised ridge just behind your upper front teeth. Ensure you allow for a continuous flow of air around the sides of your tongue as you voice the sound. There is also no need for repeated vibrations or rolling of the tongue.




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"Z" Sound
The "Z" sound is a voiced consonant sound commonly found in English. In Filipino, the “Z” sound is almost nonexistent and the "S" sound is more prevalent.



For the English Z sound, place the tip of your tongue against the raised ridge behind your upper front teeth. Next, make a buzzing sound. In its real sense, the "Z" sound is voiced, meaning that your vocal cords vibrate when producing this sound. 




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"F" Sound
Again, unintentionally, Filipino English speakers sometimes substitute the "P" sound for the "F" sound. As a result, some Filipinos may use the "P" sound when pronouncing English words that contain the "F" sound, resulting in mispronunciations. For example, 

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"Fish" may be pronounced as "pish."
"Fruit" might sound like "pruit."
"Fine" could be pronounced as "pine."


To overcome this challenge, you must first recognize that both sounds are unique and require different methods to achieve them. For pronouncing the "F" sound, place your upper front teeth lightly against your lower lip without letting them touch. Allow a steady stream of air to flow between your upper teeth and lower lip. 

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No Voicing at the End of Words
In English pronunciation for Tagalog speakers, the final consonant sounds are often not pronounced or are pronounced very lightly. Words in their language will typically end with vowel sounds or unvoiced consonants like "K" or "T." As a result, Filipino speakers might omit the final sound when pronouncing words that end with voiced consonants, like "B," "D," or "V."



For example, we pronounce "cab" in English as /kæb/, with the final "B" sound. Some Filipino English speakers may skip the final "B" sound and pronounce it as /kæ/, making it sound like "cah."

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"B" instead of "V"
When pronouncing English words that contain the "V" sound, some Filipino English speakers may inadvertently use the "B" sound, which is more familiar to them. This substitution can lead to words like "berry" being used instead of "very." 



To pronounce the "V" sound, gently place your upper front teeth against your lower lip and allow the airflow to create a vibration of the vocal cords.




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“S” Blends
"S" blends are consonant clusters — sequences of two or more consonant sounds that occur together at the beginning or end of words within a syllable. These clusters are formed when two or more consonant sounds are pronounced consecutively without an intervening vowel sound.



The practice of inserting a vowel sound before "S" blends is a common challenge in English pronunciation for Filipino speakers. This issue arises due to differences in phonological patterns between Tagalog and English. Hence, Filipinos may say "eschool" instead of "school." 



It is important to practice words with "S" blends and become familiar with English consonant clusters. Additionally, recognize and maintain the importance of the integrity of these clusters without added vowel sounds for clear and natural English pronunciation. Examples of "S" blends include:



Sk: As in "sky," "skin," and "skate."
Sl: As in "slip," "slate," and "sled."
Sm: As in "smile," "smoke," and "smell."
Sn: As in "snack," "snuggle," and "snow."
Sp: As in "spin," "spoon," and "space."
St: As in "star," "stop," and "still."
Sw: As in "swim," "swing," and "swamp."
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Difficult English Vowels for Filipino Speakers
Navigating the intricacies of English vowels can be a notable challenge for Filipino speakers, given the distinctions in vowel systems between the two languages. This section delves into specific English vowel sounds that often prove difficult for Filipino learners, offering insights and strategies to enhance their pronunciation proficiency.

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The Schwa Vowel
The schwa sound is a very common and neutral vowel sound in English. We find this sound in words like "sofa" and "banana." It is responsible for the speech rhythm and flow of native English speakers. Be that as it may, this sound poses a major challenge in English pronunciation for Filipino speakers. This is because it is not a prominent feature in the Filipino language.



To pronounce the schwa sound, keep your mouth and tongue relaxed and in a neutral position. Your lips should be relaxed like you want to say a brief “uh”. 




"IH" Sound
Tagalog generally lacks the short /ɪ/ or "IH" sound, which is present in English words like "bit" or "sit." To make this sound, separate your lips and keep your tongue resting on your lower teeth. Then release sound while both sides of your tongue hit your top back teeth.

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Challenges in English Pronunciation for Filipino Speakers
Many factors influence and are responsible for English pronunciation mistakes for Tagalog speakers and Filipinos in general, including structural and grammatical differences between the two languages. We have identified some of these factors here to help you understand the possible causes of your pronunciation errors.

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Direct Translations 
There is often the mistake of attempting direct translations in English pronunciation for Filipino speakers. Here, they try to translate words from their language to English, saying sentences exactly the way they are structured. This can lead to pronunciation errors because English words may have different contexts in Filipino. Also, both languages have significant distinctions  in terms of grammar and sentence structure, verb tenses, and use of articles. The example below explains this better.



Filipino: "Kumain ng tinapay."

Direct Translation: "Ate bread."

Correct English: "I/he/she/they ate bread."

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Word Stress
A prominent challenge in English pronunciation for Filipino speakers is the issue of word stress. Filipinos may place more stress on the wrong syllables of English words compared to native English speakers. The implication is that word stress is generally fixed and less variable in English pronunciation for Filipino speakers. More often than not, this leads to mispronunciations or misunderstandings.



For example, Filipinos might incorrectly stress the second syllable in pho-TO-graph instead of the first syllable, as is common in American English. Their word stress also commonly falls on the second-to-last syllable of a word. This consistent pattern contrasts with the more varied stress placement in English. Watch this video blog that illustrates how the Filipino stress pattern sounds: 




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Now, practice this English stress exercise in the video below.


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Spelling Errors
English has complex spelling rules and many irregularities. Filipino speakers may struggle with words that don't follow the regular spelling patterns. For example, words like "colonel" or "Wednesday" can be mispronounced due to the spelling not matching their expected pronunciation based on English spelling conventions. Other challenging factors that may cause spelling errors include homophones, diphthongs, and the limited vowel sounds in the Filipino language.

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There, are, however some spelling guidelines that can be consistently relied on to guide your English pronunciation. For example, the video below provides some insights on the pronunciation of pluralized nouns in English based on spelling.

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How to Improve Your English Pronunciation
To attain fluency in English pronunciation for Filipino speakers and build confidence in speech, apply the following techniques.

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Read Aloud
Read English texts or books aloud and jot down difficult words. You can also try to transcribe your favorite English shows or songs.

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Mouth and Tongue Exercises
Perform exercises to improve tongue and mouth control. These exercises help you master mouth movement and tongue placement to articulate sounds more accurately. Check out an example below.

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Seek Feedback
Engage in English conversations with native speakers and get feedback from them. You can also consult language instructors or experts and ask them to provide guidance and correct your pronunciation through 1:1 language and accent coaching.

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Record Yourself
Use a recording device or smartphone to record your speech. Listen to the recordings to identify areas where you need improvement. Self-assessment is valuable for tracking progress.

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Mastering English Pronunciation for Filipino Speakers
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Communication is successful only when the receiver understands your message. For Filipino professionals, learning proper English pronunciation is a necessity to advance their careers. The way we speak also deeply influences our confidence, perception, and social relationships. This is why you must pay close attention to your English accent. 



Articulating English pronunciation for Filipino speakers is easy once you understand the correct mouth positioning and embrace proactive learning. Remember that it’s okay to seek help with your pronunciation problems. The feedback you receive from others, especially from professional experts, will further influence your learning pace. 








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