Welcome to our ESL Pronunciation Guide! In this video, we’ll guide you through the correct pronunciation between lettuce and letters.
Lettuce (/ˈlɛtɪs/) refers to a leafy green vegetable commonly used in salads and sandwiches. The pronunciation of “lettuce” emphasizes the short “e” sound (/ɛ/), pronounced like the “e” in “bed” or “pet,” followed by the “tis” sound (/tɪs/).
On the other hand, letters (/ˈlɛtərz/) refers to written or printed symbols used to represent speech sounds and compose words and sentences. The pronunciation of “letters” also includes the short “e” sound (/ɛ/), as in “lettuce,” followed by the “tərz” sound (/tərz/), where the “ə” represents the schwa sound, often pronounced like the “u” in “but” or “a” in “sofa.”
To differentiate between lettuce and letters, ESL learners can focus on the vowel sound and stress pattern of each word. Practicing with minimal pairs and listening exercises can help reinforce the correct pronunciation and prevent confusion between these two words. Additionally, engaging in speaking activities and conversations that incorporate these words in context can further enhance pronunciation skills and promote accurate language use.
