How To Pronounce Paid and Said
The goal for my students is always to be easily understood, to eliminate confusion when speaking, and to avoid embarrassing pronunciation mistakes.
One of the most common challenges for speakers of English as a second language (ESL) is figuring out how to pronounce certain words correctly. Two of the most commonly mispronounced words in English are “paid” and “said.” While these two words might seem simple enough, they can be tricky for ESL students because they can be pronounced in different ways depending on the context. Here is a guide on how to pronounce paid and said with confidence.
In this American Pronunciation lesson we doing just that, as we talk about how to pronounce paid and said. These words look like they should rhyme...but they don't!
Get all the details and practice in the video lesson.
Although there are 5 vowel LETTERS in English, there are actually 15 (or more, depending on who you ask) vowel SOUNDS, in English. Sounds and letters are not the same, so spelling can be misleading, and this is an important concept to be aware of who pronouncing American English.
Paid
The word "paid" is pronounced with a long /AY/ sound. Make this vowel louder and longer than you think iy should be. /PAAAAYYYYYYD/. Remember Fonzie on the old show "Happy Days"? Think of him when you pronounce this sound. This will make it easier for native speakers to understand you when you say this word.
Said
The word "said" is pronounced with the vowel /EH/, so /SEHD/. That means it rhymes with "bed". This will help native speakers understand your pronunciation more easily.
Knowing how to pronounce "paid" and "said" correctly can be helpful for ESL students who want to communicate more effectively with native speakers of English. By understanding the basics of vowel sounds in English and using longer vowel sounds when speaking these two words, ESL students can improve their pronunciation skills while also sounding more confident when speaking English. With practice, pronouncing paid and said will become second nature!
