How Can I Improve My English Pronunciation & Sound Like a Native – 10 Proven Tips

Struggling to be understood even when your grammar and vocabulary are solid? You’re not alone, and the issue often isn’t what you say, but how you say it.

When your accent gets in the way of communication, it can feel frustrating. You’ve done the hard work of learning English, however, you still might occasionally hear:

“Can you repeat that please?”

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that?”

The good news? Clear pronunciation is a skill anyone can develop at any age with the right strategy.

Here’s the overview of 10 actionable steps to help you speak more clearly and sound more natural and “native-like” in English:

Get to Know the Sounds
Master the Music of English – Rhythm, Stress and Syllables
Master the Connected Speech
Use Phonetic Spellings to Learn Words Correctly
Listen to Podcasts in English
Practice Speaking with Native Speakers
Record Yourself and Compare
Learn Mouth and Tongue Placement
Challenge Yourself With Tongue Twisters
Consider Accent Reduction Classes

1. Get to Know English Sounds (Phonemes)

Before you can improve, you need to know what you’re working with. English has around 44 unique sounds, and some of them don’t exist in other languages. These individual sounds are called phonemes, and mastering them is the foundation of great pronunciation.

Start by focusing on the sounds you personally struggle with. Most people usually struggle with 10-12 sounds and their pronunciation changes dramatically by learning how to pronounce them the right way. If you can’t identify them, accent coaches can help you with that starting point.

If you like learning in a systematic way, I’ve created a detailed guide to show you how each sound is pronounced the right way.

2. Master the Music of English – Rhythm, Stress, and Intonation

English isn’t just about individual sounds—it’s about flow. One of the key differences between native and non-native speech is rhythm. Even if you know how to pronounce each individual sound correctly, you still might not sound clear enough. Rhythm, stress and intonation play a huge role in how clear or “native-like” you sound.

English is a stress-timed language, which means certain syllables are emphasized while others are reduced.

Learn to:

Emphasize content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives)
De-stress function words (the, and, to, of, etc.)
Practice “thought groups” by pausing naturally between phrases

Once you get the rhythm right, everything starts to sound more fluent and natural, even if your accent isn’t perfect yet.

3. Link Your Words Like a Native Speaker

Native speakers don’t talk like textbooks. Words get blurred together through connected speech where sounds link, merge, or disappear entirely.

Examples:

“Want to” → wanna
“Did you” → didya
“Next day” → nexday

Understanding these natural speech patterns helps you both sound more fluent and understand native speakers more easily. You can practice this by repeating real-life dialogues from movies or podcasts and shadowing how the phrases are connected.

4. Use Phonetic Spellings to Learn Words Correctly

English spelling is wildly inconsistent: think “though,” “thought,” and “through.” Don’t trust how a word looks. Instead, use trusted dictionaries (like Cambridge or Merriam-Webster) that show the phonetic transcription and audio pronunciation. This helps you learn the right way to say a word from the start before incorrect habits form.

5. Talk to Yourself Out Loud (Yes, Really)

Narrating your actions in English might sound silly, but it’s powerful. Saying things like “I’m opening my laptop” or “I’m pouring a cup of tea” helps your tongue and mouth build muscle memory for English.

This method is especially useful if you don’t have someone to practice with every day. And yes, maybe warn your roommates first.

6. Practice Speaking with Native Speakers (if possible)

One of the fastest ways to improve your pronunciation is by speaking regularly with native English speakers. They naturally model the rhythm, stress, and intonation of the language, something you simply can’t get from studying alone.

If you can, aim to have short conversations daily or at least weekly. Even just 10 minutes of real interaction can make a noticeable difference. Whether it’s through a language exchange, conversation partner, or professional coach, getting real-time feedback helps you catch mistakes and adjust on the spot.

Can’t find a native speaker near you? Online platforms make it easier than ever to connect with one from anywhere in the world.

7. Record Yourself and Compare

Most people don’t realize how they sound until they hear themselves. Record your voice using a phone or laptop. Then compare your recording to a native speaker saying the same sentence (you can find clips in movies, podcasts, or pronunciation videos).

Pay attention to things like vowel clarity, intonation, and rhythm. Try again. And again. Improvement comes through repetition.

8. Learn Mouth and Tongue Placement

Where your tongue and lips are during speech matters. English requires specific placements that may feel awkward at first, like the tongue between the teeth for the “TH” sound.

Use video tutorials or mirror practice to check your form. Over time, the physical coordination becomes automatic.

9. Challenge Yourself with Tongue Twisters

Tongue twisters aren’t just for fun, they’re powerful tools for training your mouth to move quickly and clearly. Start slow and focus on precision. Then build speed.

Examples:

“The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.”
“She sells sea shells by the sea shore.”

Even native speakers mess these up, so don’t worry if you stumble at first.

You can find all of them on Google, but ….

I’ve created a full list of tongue twisters for each sound in English language. Feel free to use it and practice daily until you master all of them.

10. Consider Accent Reduction Classes

If you’re serious about leveling up your pronunciation, personalized coaching makes a huge difference. A professional can spot subtle errors that you may not hear on your own, and more importantly, show you exactly how to fix them.

They can also help you learn and improve in an effective and time-saving manner, so that you don’t have to wander and become overwhelmed with English phonetics.

Whether you want to sound clearer in meetings, interviews, or presentations, working 1-on-1 with an accent coach will fast-track your progress. They’ll build a training plan based on your unique speech patterns and give you the accountability to keep improving.

Final Thoughts: Clarity > Perfection

You don’t need to erase your accent. You just need to be understood clearly the first time. These techniques will help you develop the movements and awareness needed to make that happen.

If you’re serious about improving your pronunciation, consider working with a coach who can pinpoint exactly what’s holding you back and guide your progress session by session.

Want to find out how you sound to a trained ear?
Book an accent assessment with me today and get personalized feedback that actually moves the needle.