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Learning Foundations

When To Pronounce "H": Italian English pronunciation problems

Practise when to pronounce English H and when not to add it before vowel sounds, using a paper airflow test and a repeat-after-me sentence.

Read the full lesson summary

Vanessa teaches a pronunciation contrast involving the English letter H. She says she has noticed that some of her Italian students omit H where it is spoken in her examples and add an extra H before words that begin with a vowel. She uses familiar names and a short sentence so learners can hear the sound in connected speech and observe the movement of air.

The first practice sentence is “Hi, Hannah. How’s it going? Have you hung out with Harry lately?” It contains several H-initial words. Vanessa asks learners to watch her mouth and listen closely, then suggests holding a piece of paper in front of the mouth. The light airflow from H may move the paper slightly. She contrasts this with a stronger burst of air from P, which moves it more. The paper is a simple visual cue, not a precise measurement of pronunciation.

Vanessa encourages learners to emphasize the H at first if they tend to omit it. Once the sound becomes more natural, they can tone it down rather than making every H unusually strong. The second part of the lesson looks at avoiding an added H before vowel-initial words. Her practice sentence is “No, he isn’t very interesting, but he won’t go away.” She asks learners to keep the vowel beginnings in “isn’t,” “interesting,” and “away” clear without inserting an extra H sound.

She models the sentence slowly and then speeds it up. This lets learners first notice each sound and then practise the same contrast in more connected speech. The examples are particularly relevant to the pronunciation pattern she describes, but the lesson can also help other learners who find the H sound difficult. English spelling has exceptions, including words with a written but silent H, so the examples should not be treated as a rule that every written H is pronounced.

To practise, say the H-initial names and words in the first sentence, then contrast them with the vowel-initial words in the second. Repeat slowly, check the airflow, and gradually return to a comfortable speaking pace. Vanessa invites viewers to suggest other sounds they find difficult. The ebook promotion at the end is optional channel content.

S2.1
Speak English With VanessaAmerican English05:05

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Transcript

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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00

Introducing the H sound and a pronunciation pattern Vanessa has noticed among some Italian learners.

hi I'm Vanessa from speak englishwith vanessa are you Italian are you learning English great this video is for you today we're going to talk about one pronunciation problem that I've noticed a lot of my Italian students having it is the lovely letter H H I've noticed that my Italian students sometimes forget to add H where they should have H and they add H where we don't need H let's talk about the first one first

Try it: Practise the contrast in Vanessa’s examples: say “Hi, Hannah” with the H sound, then “he isn’t” without adding an extra H before the vowel. Repeat slowly, then at a natural pace.

Phrase cheat sheet

All phrases at a glance

Review each expression, hear it, save it, or jump to where it appears in the video.

11 phrases

Have you hung out with Harry lately?

Practising H in “Hi, Hannah, how’s it going?” and “Have you hung out with Harry lately?” · expression

Ask whether someone has spent casual social time with Harry recently.

Tone and use: Friendly informal question; “lately” refers to a recent period. Use it to ask about someone’s recent social contact with a person.

May not fit: Use “hang out” for casual time together, not a formal appointment.

Example“Have you hung out with Maya lately?”

hung out with

Practising H in “Hi, Hannah, how’s it going?” and “Have you hung out with Harry lately?” · expression

Spent relaxed, informal time with someone.

Tone and use: Common conversational phrasal verb in the past tense. Use it for casual socializing with friends or acquaintances.

May not fit: It is informal; “spent time with” is more neutral.

Example“We hung out with our neighbors on Saturday.”

put it in front of your mouth

Using a piece of paper to notice the airflow for H. · expression

Place an object before your mouth, facing outward from it.

Tone and use: Practical instruction phrase. Use it when describing a simple demonstration with paper or another object.

May not fit: Keep objects at a comfortable distance and do not obstruct breathing.

Example“Hold the tissue in front of your mouth while you say the sound.”

test to see if

Using a piece of paper to notice the airflow for H. · expression

Check whether something is true or whether an action is working.

Tone and use: Common conversational structure. Use it before describing a simple way to check a result.

May not fit: Say what you are checking when the purpose is not clear.

Example“We can test to see if the microphone is working.”

tone it down

Repeating H words with stronger emphasis, then gradually reducing the emphasis. · expression

Make something less strong, intense, or emphatic.

Tone and use: Common phrasal expression. Use it when reducing volume, emphasis, or intensity.

May not fit: It can sound critical when applied to another person’s behavior.

Example“After practising the sound clearly, tone it down to a natural level.”

at the beginning

Repeating H words with stronger emphasis, then gradually reducing the emphasis. · expression

At the start of a word, sentence, or process.

Tone and use: Common time and position phrase. Use it to identify the opening part of something.

May not fit: Specify what is beginning if the context is not obvious.

Example“Listen carefully to the sound at the beginning of the word.”

difficult for you

Repeating H words with stronger emphasis, then gradually reducing the emphasis. · expression

Hard for you to do or manage in the situation being discussed.

Tone and use: Common conversational phrase. Use it to acknowledge that a particular task or sound presents a challenge for someone.

May not fit: It describes a challenge, not an inability to improve.

Example“If this sound is difficult for you, practise it in a short sentence.”

begins with a vowel

Contrasting H words with words beginning in vowels, where learners should not add an extra H. · expression

Starts with a vowel sound or vowel letter, depending on the context.

Tone and use: Instructional language phrase. Use it to describe how a word starts; in pronunciation work, distinguish sound from spelling.

May not fit: A vowel letter and a vowel sound are not always the same thing.

Example“The word “away” begins with a vowel sound.”

start slowly

Practising “No, he isn’t very interesting, but he won’t go away” slowly. · expression

Begin at a reduced speed before attempting a faster pace.

Tone and use: Common practice instruction. Use it when learning a new sentence, movement, or skill.

May not fit: Slow practice is a step toward natural speed, not always the final goal.

Example“Start slowly and increase your pace when the words feel clear.”

one more time slowly

Repeating the sentence slowly and quickly to practise the contrast. · expression

Repeat the action once again at a reduced pace.

Tone and use: Common instruction. Use it when asking for another slow repetition.

May not fit: Use it as a practice cue, not as an overly rigid rule.

Example“Let’s say the sentence one more time slowly.”

speed it up

Repeating the sentence slowly and quickly to practise the contrast. · expression

Make an action or process happen faster.

Tone and use: Common phrasal verb. Use it when increasing speaking or working pace.

May not fit: Increase the speed only while the words remain clear.

Example“After the slow practice, speed it up a little.”

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What it means · “Have you hung out with Harry lately?”

What does “Have you hung out with Harry lately?” ask?