Basic English: How to pronounce -NGTH words

Hello. I'm Gill at engVid, and today we have a lesson on a pronunciation of this sound.

Okay? So, it can be rather tricky to do because it involves two different consonant sounds,

really. You've got the "ng", "ng", which is a bit like when you have "ing", it's sort

of in your throat, "ng", like that, "ng". But it's followed by "th", "th", "ngth", "ngth",

like that. So, if you don't have either of those sounds in your own native language,

this will be... It will take you a bit of time to learn it if you haven't already. Maybe

one of these you have in your own language, but not the other, so it just takes a little

bit of time. So, "ngth", "ngth", so it's the sound in your throat for "ng", "ng", "ng",

and then followed by "th", "th", where you bring your tongue forward to touch the back

of your top teeth. "Th", "th", "th", like that. "Ngth", "ngth", "ngth". Okay? So, you'll be

glad to know that not many words contain this sound. There are two main basic words, which

is "length" and "strength" in English, but they sort of expand into... They're the sort

of root words for a lot of longer words that contain that word, so that's why I've written

them all up here. They're all the ones I can think of that contain the sound. So, let's

just go through and see how we get on.

So, we have "length", "lengths", "lengthen", so this is then the verb to make something

longer is to lengthen it. Okay? "Lengthening", so you've got an "ing" sound at the end as

well as the "ngs" in the middle. "Lengthening", "lengthening", like that. And "lengthened",

"lengthened". Okay.

Then we have the adjective "lengthy", so you might say that was a lengthy explanation or

a lengthy lecture or lesson. That was lengthy. Longer than usual, perhaps. "Lengthy". And

then we have the comparative and the superlative, "lengthier" and "lengthiest". Right? So, this

is very good for vocabulary as well, the way one root word, "length", can expand into lots

of other words to help you expand your vocabulary. Okay? So, "lengthy", "lengthier", "lengthiest".

So, try to... Try to say it along with me as we go through and see if you can get the

right sound.

And then we have "lengthways" and "lengthwise", which mean the same thing, really. If you

put something on a table from one end to the other, maybe a piece of string or a ribbon

or something like that, you're putting it lengthways on the table. "Lengthways" or "lengthwise"

and the longer going... The longer way, not the shorter widthways, but the long lengthways.

Okay.

And then "wavelengths" and "wavelengths" to do with... Oh, in physics, you know, or in

radio technology, you have a wavelength that you tune into for a particular radio station,

that sort of thing. Okay? So, "wavelengths", "wavelengths". Right? So, those are all the

words with "lengths" as the base. Now let's do the "strengths" words. So, let's just recap

again. "Ngs", "ngs", "ngs", "ngs". So, you have to do something in your throat, here.

You have to do something with the muscles to get "ngs", "ngs", "ngs", "ngs" right down

in your throat. And then it's always "eh" in front of it, "engs", "engs". That's the

vowel sound that comes in front of it, an "e". So, "eh", "engs", "engs", "engs", "engs",

"engs", like that. Okay.

Okay, so let's carry on with "strengths" and "strengths". If you go for a job interview,

they often ask you what are your strengths and weaknesses. So, here's "strengths". "Strengthen",

so the verb to make something stronger is to strengthen it. "Strengthen" and "strengthening"

and "strengthened". Okay. And then we have "superstrength", "understrength", meaning

not strong enough, probably. "Understrength", "superstrength" would be very strong. "Understrength"

is not strong enough. And then "unstrengthened" is something that has not been made stronger.

"Unstrengthened". Okay. Right, and then we have three sentences to end with, so let's

just try these. "I haven't got the strength to swim a length." So, in the swimming pool,

the length is the longer distance. The width is the shorter distance that goes across,

the width, but this is the length, so "I haven't got the strength to swim a length." Okay.

And then, "He went to great lengths to increase his strength." So, that means to go to great

lengths is to do a lot, to try very hard, to try lots of different ways, possibly. "He

went to great lengths to increase his strength." Right. And then, finally, "She gave me a lengthy

explanation", a long explanation, "but his explanation was even lengthier." Okay. "She

gave me a lengthy explanation, but his explanation was even lengthier." Right. Okay, so "ength",

"ength", "ength", "ength", if you put your fingers here to feel your throat, "ength",

"ength", "ength", you might just... If you're not quite sure yet, you have to sort of feel

it and do it out loud. Don't just think it in your head; you have to do it out loud.

Okay. "ength", "ength". So, just to finish with, I will just read through these again

at a normal speed without too much emphasis so that you can hear it in a natural way.

Okay, so here we go. Ready? So, "length", "lengths", "lengthen", "lengthening", "lengthened",

"lengthy", "lengthier", "lengthiest", "lengthways", "lengthwise", "wavelength", "wavelengths".

"Strength", "strengths", "strengthen", "strengthening", "strengthened", "superstrength", "understrength",

"unstrengthened". Okay, so I hope that's been helpful to give you perhaps a new pronunciation,

and also to introduce you to some new words or the expanded words that come from "length"

and "strength". So, thank you for watching, and hope to see you again soon. Bye for now.