Did you know that this word has two different pronunciations depending on how the word is
used? This is called a homograph and in this lesson you're going to learn the 10 most common
homographs in English so you can improve your English pronunciation. And number 10 is new
to me. I had no idea there were two different pronunciations for this word. Let's get started.
Let's begin with this word. Listen to the sentence, the dove dove into the water.
Now Dove is a noun, it's a bird. Dove of Dove, is the past simple
form of the verb dive. I always dive into the water. I dove into the water.
In British English, you can also use dived as the past simple. But in American English,
it's more common to say do of the dove, dove into the water. How do you pronounce this word?
Don't desert Us in the desert here. We need to think about syllable stress, Don't desert
us. When you desert someone, it means you leave them alone in a difficult situation without any
help. For the verb, the syllable stress is on the second syllable desert. But for the noun,
the syllable stress is on the first syllable, desert don't desert Us in the desert. Now, it's
really important to have a professional review, your pronunciation, so you can make sure that you
are saying it correctly and that's the type of support that I offer my students in the thigh.
Finally fluent Academy. This is my premium membership program where I
will personally work with you coach your support,
you help you until you become fluent so you can learn how to join the finally fluent Academy on
my website. You can just click the link right there. How do you pronounce this word? They
need to deliberate on whether her actions were deliberate. The verb. Deliberate is when you
I think or talk about something seriously or carefully, the adjectives.
Deliberate means intentionally or on purpose,
they need to deliberate on whether her actions were deliberate. How do you pronounce this word?
My parents are going to separate and live in separate homes. The verb separate means to
Divided into Parts
separate. The adjectives. Separate is when two things happen independently or with location.
It means two independent locations. So my parents are going to separate and live in separate homes.
One will live here and one will live here. How do you pronounce this? Let's resume with the resume.
Resume is a verb and it's used to mean to start again after a pause. So we were
reviewing the resume. Of course, a resume is your summary of your qualifications,
your experience in your work history. That's your resume. We were reviewing the resume and then we
stopped. But now, we're going to resume reviewing the resume. Notice how the end is pronounced.
Simay, this isn't typical English pronunciation because this word is
bore owed from French pronunciation, resume resume the resume. How do you pronounce this?
Let's use what we can put to good, use, notice the length of the sounds, let's use the verb,
let's use what we can put to good use, use use use, use how about this word,
close the door, so we can get close. Of course, the verb to close now close as an adjective.
Active describes, when two people have a strong connection or relationship my sister
and I are close. We have a strong connection or a relationship. Now,
physically two people can get close where they are separate and then they get close,
physically, close the door so we can get close. The pronunciation difference again is
Is a longer sound for the verb, close the door,
and then a shorter sound for the adjectives, close the door, so we can get close.
Close, close, close close. How about this word? We need to record a new record this week. The
difference depends on syllable stress with the verb. The stress is on the second. Syllable
record, record for the noun. The syllable stress is on the first syllable record record. We need
To record the record this week. How about this word, polish? The Polish silverware,
Polish people are from the country Poland. The verb is Polish. Notice the difference
in the vowel, Polish Polish, Polish, Polish, the Polish silverware. And this is the word, I
Did not know was a homograph.
This sound is making it difficult to sew the seeds the verb to. So this is when you plant seeds in
the ground so they will grow its what farmers do or what you can do in your backyard as well. Use,
so the seeds, but sow is a female pig. Now, I didn't know that the word sow
Described a female pig. So, that's new to me, sow sow sow the seeds sow.
The sow is making it difficult to sew the seeds.
Now, I'm going to quiz you to make sure you have the correct pronunciation. I want you to
read the sentence out loud and after you'll listen to my pronunciation so you can make
Sure. You have it correct. Let's get started.
The dove dove into the water.
Don't desert Us in the desert.
They need to deliberate on whether her actions were deliberate.
My parents are going to separate and live in separate homes.
Let's resume with the resume.
Let's use what we can put to good use.
Close the door so we can get close.
We need to record a new record this week.
Polish the Polish silverware.
This sow is making it difficult to sew the seeds.
So, how did you do with that quiz? Do you know all of these homographs? And if you want feedback
on your pronunciation, you can get that in the finally fluent Academy. Now, while you can keep
practicing and improving your pronunciation with this lesson and make sure you download
this free speaking guide, where I share six tips on how to speak English fluently,
and confidently, you can get it from my website right here and now get started.
Going with your next lesson.