English words can be really confusing sometimes.

In the how-to-pronounce episodes released every Friday, I’ll help you with the pronunciation of confusing or challenging words.

This week we’re going to talk about how to pronounce words that end with the suffix ‘-ial’.

Get your FREE ‘-ial’ Suffix Pronunciation Practice here: https://theaccentsway.com/suffix-download/

Here’s a loose transcription of the words as explained in the episode:

• memorial: me-mo-ree-y’l [IPA: məˈmɔːriəl ]
• testimonial: tes-tuh-mow-nee-y’l [IPA: ˌtestəˈmoʊniəl]
• editorial: e-duh-to-ree-y’l [IPA: ˌedəˈtɔːriəl]
• trivial: triv-y’l [IPA:ˈtrɪvjəl]

 

When this suffix appears after a SH sound, it changes:

• financial: fai-nan-sh’l [IPA: faɪˈnænʃəl]
• social: sow-sh’l [IPA: ˈsoʊʃəl]
• commercial: kuh-mur-sh’l [IPA: kəˈmɝːʃəl]
• martial: mar-sh’l [IPA: ˈmɑːrʃəl]
• influential: in-flu-en-sh’l [IPA: ˌɪnfluˈenʃəl]
• potential: puh-ten-sh’l [IPA: pəˈtenʃəl ]
• controversial: kaan-truh-vur-sh’l [IPA: ˌkɑːntrəˈvɝːʃəl]

 

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