Best Online Dictionaries for Pronunciation
Have you ever mispronounced a word and thought to yourself, “why didn’t anyone correct me?” Do you ever feel frustrated that words spelled similarly in English are not always pronounced similarly? If you answered yes, then you are not alone. This is the perfect opportunity to use online dictionaries to help get you closer to your English pronunciation goals! Listed below are four of the highest consumer-rated online dictionaries. They offer several useful features for English language learners. After checking them out, consider downloading a practical, accessible mobile app to look up the pronunciation of words for everyday use.
Top-Rated Online Dictionaries
1. The Free Dictionary
The Free Dictionary offers all the basics you need as a pronunciation resource. With Free Dictionaty, you can search by words, characters, or text to find definitions and voice pronunciations. This online dictionary also offers a detailed breakdown of phonetic spelling, which can be very helpful when perfecting specific sounds. Additionally, you can compare pronunciation differences between American English and UK English. This online resource also has an app for iPhone and Android so check it out!
2. Merriam-Webster Online
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary is one the most reputable and respected dictionaries of the English language and is now offered online. Merriam-Webster offers phonetic translations, a thesaurus, Spanish to English translation, and a medical dictionary. Another great feature is the history and etymology of words. The dictionary is also available as a mobile app.
3. Cambridge Dictionary Online
The Cambridge Dictionary online is a combination of four highly reputable dictionaries: the Cambridge Dictionary of American English, the Learner’s Dictionary, the International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs, and the International Dictionary of Idioms. If you’re looking for a highly-detailed historical resource, this is the one for you. To illustrate regional accent differences, phonetic translations and spoken pronunciations are offered in both American English and European English. Cambridge is also offered as an iPhone/Android app with options for in-app purchases.
4. Visuwords
Visuwords offers a unique, one-of-a-kind experience for anyone who learns visually. It does not offer pronunciation of words, however, Visuwords can be an excellent supplement for boosting your English language vocabulary. The dictionary is graphical, so it creates diagrams of words and concepts to illustrate how words are associated. Visuwords is particularly designed for writers, students, teachers, and artists.
There’s an App for That!
Looking for pronunciation resources exclusively for your phone? Here are a few:
Sounds: Pronunciation App
Based on Adrian Underhill’s book “Sound Foundations”, this app helps you study and practice pronunciation anywhere you’d like. SOUNDS offers three key features: a practice feature, a vocabulary feature, and an interactive phonemic chart. During practice, you can work on reading, writing, and listening. The vocabulary feature has audio recordings of 650 frequently-used words. The IPA chart divides all the sounds in English into separate sections. It also allows you to tap each sound to hear the pronunciation as well as an example of its use. Both American English and British English pronunciation options are available.
ELSA Speak: English Accent Coach
Another excellent resource offered for both iPhone and Android phones is the ELSA Speak app. This award-winning speech app utilizes speech recognition technology to show where pronunciation mistakes are taking place and how to improve. First, you practice common phrases used in everyday life. Then, the app offers you feedback on specific sounds spoken, showing you how to move your tongue and lips to pronounce words correctly. According to the app’s statistics, 800,000 people have used ELSA to improve their pronunciation score by 40% in less than 4 weeks.
Pronuncian-English Pronounce
Another highly-rated app is the Pronuncian-English app. This app offers video and picture guides to illustrate the pronunciation and spelling of the 43 sounds of American English. Practice by listening to each sound in different words and contexts. Then you repeat to yourself to specifically target each sound. Pronuncian also offers visual diagrams of articulators to show where in the vocal tract sounds are made.
Tips for Using Apps
Before you head out to explore all these amazing resources, here are a few key pointers to remember for enhancing your success:
- Record yourself while you speak. Conveniently enough, many of these resources will do this for you! We often miss pronunciation errors in the moment and listening to playback on spoken language can be a useful tool.
- Utilize repetition. Replay videos and audio recordings over and over to memorize pronunciation. This is important because listening to correct pronunciation of a word or phoneme only once will not likely create lasting change.
- Learn IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet). In the IPA chart, each sound produced in spoken language is represented by a symbol. Once you’ve learned the symbols, and can decode phonetic transcriptions of words, this fast-track tool helps you to identify correct pronunciation one word at a time. Several of the apps and online dictionaries described above have detailed, interactive IPA charts to make learning this alphabet easy.
- Make learning social and fun. Research shows we are more likely to learn when we engage in learning material in a way that is relevant, interesting, and directly useful to our lives. Use this opportunity to share these online or mobile resources with a friend. Compare your scores and share learning styles to keep things fresh!
All in all, these free, easy-access resources are difficult to pass up! We hope you find them useful and pass them along to fellow colleagues, professionals, and students.
For quick access to an online IPA chart with pronunciations, click here.
Questions or Comments? Contact us here.
For help with your communication and pronunciation skills, check out Packard Communications’ services page for an initial assessment, small classes, individual training, or online training!
References:
Mittra, A. (2019, November 25). 7 English pronunciation apps to speak clear, confident English. Retrieved from https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/english-pronunciation-app/
OKeefe, M. (n.d.) The 10 best online dictionaries. Retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/the-best-10-online-dictionaries.html
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