English pronunciation for Arabic speakers
The signature fix for Arabic speakers is /p/: Arabic has no p, so 'pen' becomes 'ben' and 'park' becomes 'bark'. Next come /v/→/f/, the small vowel set (bit/bet blur), and the helper vowel inside consonant clusters.
- 6 sounds to fix, in order
- Every sound read aloud
- A listening game for each contrast
Your sounds, in order
- p
1
p as in pen
no /p/ in Arabic: 'pen' → 'ben', 'pay' → 'bay'. The aspiration puff is the fix
Fix: Press both lips together and block the air.
- v
2
v as in very
/v/ devoices to /f/: 'very' → 'ferry', 'leave' → 'leaf'
Fix: Touch your top teeth to your bottom lip, same position as /f/.
- ɪ
3
i as in sit
/ɪ/ and /e/ blur: 'bit' and 'bet' sound the same
Fix: Relax your lips and jaw, no smile.
- ɒ
4
o as in hot
/ɒ/ and /ɔː/ merge: 'shot' and 'short'
Fix: Open your mouth wide, like for /ɑː/.
- ŋ
5
ng as in sing
/ŋ/ becomes /n/ or /nɡ/: 'sing' → 'sin' or 'sing-g'
Fix: Raise the back of your tongue to the soft palate, the /k/ /ɡ/ position.
- r
6
r as in red
trilled r transfers; aim for the smooth English glide (accent colour, not a blocker)
Fix: Curl your tongue tip up and slightly back; it must NOT touch anything.
Stress and rhythm
- Avoid the helper vowel in clusters: 'street' not 'istreet', 'splash' not 'isplash'.
- Arabic speakers often read every vowel fully from spelling; practise schwa in unstressed syllables.
- Your stress instincts are good; focus on the final fall in statements to avoid an abrupt finish.
Start this week
- Tissue test daily: 'pen, pay, park'; the tissue must jump on every p.
- Minimal pairs five minutes a day: pen/ben, pay/bay, pull/bull.
- Hum 'nnng' at the back of the mouth for /ŋ/: sing, long, morning, no g release.