The pronunciation of
the letters H and Y in English

How do you pronounce the letter H in English?

The letter H is pronounced without using the vocal cords. To produce the H sound, we simply exhale air. The letter H has the phonetic sound /h/. Click on the audio link below to listen and repeat the sound.

► The letter H - phonetic sound of /h/

How is the letter Y pronounced in English?

The letter Y is pronounced using the vocal cords. To produce its sound, the tongue is brought close to the palate without touching it. The letter Y has the phonetic sound /j/.

► The letter Y - phonetic sound of /j/

The first word in each row of the table below has the letter H (the phonetic sound of /h/). The second has the letter Y (the phonetic sound of /j/). Click on the word to hear and repeat the pronunciation.

The pronunciation of the letters H and Y in English
The letter H	The letter Y
► hack	► yak
► hail	► Yale
► ham	► yam
► hard	► yard
► hay	► yay
► hear	► year
► hum	► yum
► hen	► yen
► hell	► yell
► help	► yelp
► hello	► yellow
► hip	► yip