If you want to speak with a standard southern British English accent (a variant of what's known as RP, or received pronunciation) then you are in the right place. Today's lesson is about how to pronounce an H in this accent.
Here's what we'll cover:
If reading isn't your thing, here's a handy video explaining everything:
How To Pronounce An H Sound
An /h/ sound is actually made by your vocal folds approximating but not fully touching. You won't be able to see or feel it.
Instead, image that you have a pair of glasses that are smeared and you steam them up with your breath. When most people do this they end up making an /h/ sound.
It is, quite simply, an audible, breathy, exhale (play the video above to hear this).
TIP - Don't make it too strong or too long. In the standard southern British English accent it is very soft.
The Position Of The Tongue For An H Sound
The tongue is not needed at all for an H sound in this accent.
However, the back of your tongue might be slightly raised in the back of the mouth which will make your H sound harder (a bit like when clearing your throat - urgh!).
To avoid this, trying making a sound similar to that when your doctor asks to look in the back of your mouth - AR.
In this sound, the back of the tongue is low. Keep the back of the tongue low and add a very soft /h/ sound (an audible, breathy, exhale). Play the video above to hear this.
When Is The H Silent
English has many loan word from many words from many languages, including those where an H would be silent. Here is a reasonably comprehensive list of words used by English speakers where the H would be silent:
honest rhyme honour heir rhubarb hour exhausted vehicle
ghost rhythm exhibition ghetto ghastly shepherd
rhapsody Sarah silhouette spaghetti gherkin
Phonetic Symbols For The H
In dictionaries you will see the phonemic symbol /h/ used for an H sound.
How To Do A British Accent Course - free
Before I share with you some sentences that you can practice with, it's just worth knowing that I have a free course on the standard southern British English accent.
I also have a comprehensive eBook with 12 hrs of audio, that covers this and every aspect of pronunciation and intonation in a Standard Southern British English accent.
How To Practice Your Pronunciation Of The H Sound
Here are some practice sentence:
The hen hurried to the hen house to check on her eggs before they hatched.
Henry seems happy today! I hope he hasn’t bought everyone homemade brownies again.
Her behaviour is abhorred – I haven’t heard any positive feedback from her clients.
I hear that Harry Howard and Hazel are getting hitched! 'Harry and Hazel Howard'! Hilarious!
Written by...
Ashley Howard MA, a UK voice coach with 18+ years experience, can help you speak the way you've always wanted to speak.
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