Think the words “Ice” and “Eyes” are pronounced the same? You might have an issue with voiced and voiceless consonants.

Almost every single English as a Second Language (ESL) client I work with on adopting an American accent, regardless of where they’re from, shares something in common. Though the beginning of a word may sound great, final consonant sounds sometimes slip, resulting in an entirely different-sounding word. “Eyes” comes out as “ice.” “Leave” sounds like “leaf.” “Twelve” drifts toward “twelfth,” and “ridge” turns into “rich.”

This is due to a small, very learnable feature of American English called voicing, and English spelling does a terrible job of telling you where it goes.

If this is something you’re struggling with, there’s good news: you almost certainly already know how to make every one of these sounds. The job is putting them in the right place.

What “Voicing” Actually Means

English consonants often come in pairs. The two sounds in each pair are produced in exactly the same manner, with the same tongue and lip position. The only difference is whether your vocal cords activate, or “buzz.” These voiced and voiceless consonant pairs are called cognate pairs in phonetics.

Cognate Pairs of English:

•      S and Z

•      F and V

•      T and D

•      P and B

•      CH and J

•      K and G

•      SH and ZH (as in “shoot” and “pleasure”)

•      TH and TH (as in “thin” and “this”)

Try feeling the difference. Put two fingers lightly on the front of your throat and hold a long “ffff.” Then, without moving your lips or teeth at all, switch to “vvvv.” You should feel a buzz in your throat, the result of your vocal cords quickly vibrating: this is voicing. Do the same thing with “ssss” and “zzzz.” You should again feel no different in placement within the mouth, only a difference in voicing.

Every vowel is voiced, but consonants can go either way. In American English, voicing tends to continue after the vowel through the end of the word. Many languages relax or switch off the voicing at the end of a word, so speakers carry that habit into English without ever noticing. The result doesn’t usually cause a dramatic misunderstanding, but it does make one’s speech identifiably ESL.

The Tricky Final S

The most frequent place in which this voicing rule is missed tends to be on a plural or possessive S at the end of a word. Despite always being spelled with an S, the sound often becomes a Z. The good news is there’s a reliable set of rules one can follow to figure out what should happen.

When you add an S to a word (for a plural, a possessive, or a verb like “she runs”), don’t look at the S itself; instead, look at the sound right before it.

•      If the sound before it is voiceless, producing no buzz of the vocal cords (like the consonants T, K, P or F), the S stays a voiceless S: cats, books, cups, laughs.

•      If the sound before it is voiced, producing a buzz on the vocal cords (any vowel, or consonants like N, M, L, D, G, B, V), the S becomes a Z: dogs, means, calls, plays, eyes.

I like to test this with names. My name ends in a T, which is voiceless, so “Scott’s book” keeps a true S. A name that ends in a vowel, like “Maria,” takes a Z: “Maria’s book” is really “Maria-z book.”

Then there are the sneaky little words that are spelled with an S but almost always said with a Z: is, was, has, as, his, hers, yours, ours. These show up in nearly every sentence you say, so fixing them pays off fast. As I tell my clients, we use the Z sound far more often than we spell it.

The Three Types of -ED Endings

Past-tense endings follow similar logic, with one extra twist. The spelling is always “-ed,” but there are three ways to pronounce it:

•      T when it follows a voiceless sound: walked, laughed, kissed, watched, washed, fixed

•      D when it follows a voiced sound: played, cleaned, called, arrived, used, allowed

•      Add an extra syllable if the base word ends with a T or D: wanted, needed, started, decided, waited

Of the three, the one I advise being most cautious about is when to add an extra syllable. Saying “watch-ed” or “call-ed” with two syllables is the mistake most likely to cause a native English speaker to mishear you.

Watch Out for “Of”

If you take away one word from this post, make it “of.” It’s spelled with an F, but in American English it ends in a V sound. It’s also one of the most common words in the language, so if it comes out as “off,” you’re repeating that small slip dozens of times an hour. It also helps to reduce the vowel, resulting in “uhv.”

A Five-Minute Daily Drill

There’s a simple daily routine you can use to work on this issue. It only takes about five minutes, and you can do it anywhere.

Step 1: Feel the buzz. Fingers on your throat. Alternate “ffff / vvvv,” “ssss / zzzz,” and “chhh / jjj” five times each. Make sure your mouth doesn’t move. Only the buzz changes. Begin slowly, then see how fast you can alternate this change on each pair.

Step 2: Minimal pairs. Read each pair out loud, keeping your fingers on your throat. The second word in each pair should buzz all the way to the end.

•      bus / buzz

•      ice / eyes

•      price / prize

•      once / ones

•      leaf / leave

•      rich / ridge

Step 3: Overdo it. If producing a voiced ending on a word doesn’t feel natural at first, don’t worry! For now, overdo the voicing. Hold the Z in “eyes” a little too long. If a final J or V keeps cutting off, you can add a tiny phantom vowel after it, so “ridge” becomes almost “ridge-uh.” That little extra keeps the vocal cords on through the end of the word. It will feel exaggerated at first, and that’s fine. Think of it as overworking the action so you can build the muscle memory. It’s much easier to dial back a sound you can make on purpose than to find one you’ve never felt, so you can work on making the articulation more subtle over time.

Step 4: Put it in sentences. Read these slowly, then at normal speed (all underlined final sounds should be voiced):

•      She leaves at twelve, and he arrives at five.

•      His eyes were on the prize, not the price.

•      The judge was at the edge of the bridge in a large orange coat.

•      We played, laughed, and needed a nap.

Step 5: Try the other direction. Say a word wrong on purpose, then fix it. Say “leaf” with a clear F, then say “leave” and just think “V.” Hearing both versions back to back trains your ear as much as your mouth.

As you work on this issue, be sure to collect words where you know you struggle to voice the final sound so that you can practice them intentionally. Spend a little bit of time working on it consciously each day, and see how it seeps into your unconscious speech over time.

As you get better with the sound in time, work on reducing the amount of force necessary to produce the voiced sound. It’s counterintuitive, but a voiced sound needs less force to be heard, because the buzz carries it, while a voiceless sound needs a bit more airflow to come through.

What Progress Looks Like

In my experience, voicing improves in a predictable order. First, you can do it when someone reminds you. After a while, you start catching it right after you say it. Eventually, you can catch it while actively thinking before it happens. Finally, the change becomes automatic.

My clients often say that this new voiced version feels silly or awkward at first, and I always respond the same way: “Good!” It should feel different to you; if it didn’t, that would mean you’re already doing it. Embrace the awkwardness at first; it will feel more natural in time.

Want Some Help With Your Voiced Endings?

Voicing is one of those features that can be simple to understand on paper, yet surprisingly tricky to actually apply at full speed, especially when unreliable English spelling keeps pulling you the wrong way. Working with a coach like me can help you hear exactly which endings slip and build targeted practice drills and exercises to work on it.

Schedule your free 15-minute Zoom consultation!

Want help with sounds like these? Explore Accent Modification Coaching.

What to Expect from Accent Modification Coaching

What is Accent Modification / Accent Reduction?

Accent Modification coaching, commonly referred to as Accent Reduction (a term I dislike), is the process of adapting one’s voice to sound more neutral, typically closer to a General American or British Received Pronunciation dialect. The main purpose of this type of training is to enhance clarity of speech, increase speaker intelligibility, and build confidence when speaking English.

There are a number of reasons one might seek this type of training, including working professionals who are hoping to grow their careers, actors who want to be more castable in their current market, or individuals who want to remove anxiety when speaking in their day-to-day life.

It’s also important to note that this work is not limited to non-native English speakers; those who have a thick regional accent might also seek to neutralize their speech for similar reasons.

What can I expect from a typical coaching session?

When working with me, you’ll find that I do not have a one-size-fits-all approach, nor do I follow a set curriculum. No two people I work with have the exact same needs. Your vocal tract, your instrument, is unique, as is your perspective, learning style, and natural ability. For that reason, I always adapt my training to the individual in front of me. I also coach exclusively online via Zoom, which allows me to keep the cost of coaching low while reaching a global audience.

In our first few sessions, we’ll take a deep dive into your natural speaking voice. What “stock” set of phonetic sounds do you naturally have? How do those sounds differ from the target dialect? How does the “music” of your voice differ in areas such as intonation, rhythm and tone? As we uncover those mysteries, you’ll learn all about the physical requirements when applying your new accent.

Once you have a strong understanding of these basics, our sessions will transition into practicing different personalized exercises targeting your specific needs, exercises that you can take home with you and practice in your own time, and that’s a critical part of the process.

To use a metaphor, if you start going to the gym and see a personal trainer once a week, you’ll learn the proper way to exercise for your body type, but if you’re only working out once a week, you’re unlikely to see serious growth. Accent modification is a physical activity, and retraining the muscles of the mouth requires the same level of dedication and outside practice.

What kind of exercises can I expect to learn?

While I’m constantly adapting my teaching style based on the needs of my clients, there are some tried-and-true tools that are worth having in your toolbox, such as:

• Phonetic imitation: Learning to produce specific sounds accurately.

• Minimal pair drills: Practicing words that differ by only one sound.

• Visual aids of mouth anatomy: Understanding tongue and lip placement.

• Tongue twisters: Strengthening pronunciation agility.

• Reading exercises: Developing a critical eye and ear when reading aloud.

• Voice recording and analysis: Identifying patterns and areas for improvement.

• Extemporaneous speech practice: Speaking naturally in real-time scenarios.

• Scripted scene practice: Refining clarity in structured dialogue.

• Self-guided practice: Adapting exercises to work independently between sessions.

Wouldn’t group classes be more cost-effective?

Most likely, but they wouldn’t be personalized to your individual needs. In a group class, the instructor is often beholden to a rigid curriculum, which will inevitably waste your time when covering topics you don’t necessarily need assistance with. Working privately online with an accent coach like myself guarantees that we’re only covering the areas that you need improvement on. Plus, I can guide your learning process to deal with the most critical issues you’ll face on your journey first, all while adapting to your learning style in real time.

How long before I see results?

My clients typically experience noticeable growth within a few months. However, it’s important to set expectations: modifying one’s natural speaking voice is a long-term effort. If you’re a non-native English speaker expecting to master an entirely new accent in just a few lessons, you may find yourself disappointed. Part of going on this journey is learning to incorporate it into your daily life. There are a number of factors that will influence how quickly you progress, including your current mastery of the English language, your commitment to both regular lessons and outside practice, any past training you may have received, and managing your temperament throughout the process.

To expand on that, our voice is a crucial part of our identities. The process of modifying it can be an emotional experience for many, and it’s easy to get frustrated and burn out if you’re not progressing as quickly as you expected. I view a big part of my job as providing tools for my clients to manage their emotions when those moments of frustration may sneak in.

How do I get started?

First, I recommend scheduling a free 15-minute consultation with me. During that time, we’ll chat about your goals, I’ll answer any questions about the accent modification coaching process, and we’ll ensure we’re a good fit.

Schedule your free 15-minute Zoom consultation

Ready to start? Learn more about Accent Modification Coaching, or schedule a free consultation.

How to Do a Russian Accent: Basic Rules for Actors

The Russian accent is a staple in our films and TV shows, and is therefore incredibly valuable for any character actor to have in their repertoire. This simple starter guide will introduce you to some of the basic rules to follow when learning the accent, resulting in a version that’s perfect for auditioning.

Introduction

Anytime you explore an English as a Second Language (ESL) accent like Russian, you must consider your character’s proficiency with the English language. Has your character spoken English for many years, or only learned it recently? Did they learn in childhood, or as an adult? Do they speak it every day, or infrequently? Decisions like these will affect the accent choices you make, just as they do for real-world speakers.

And they are indeed “choices.” In real life, ESL speakers are often inconsistent when speaking English. They may speak a word a certain way in one moment, and pronounce it differently the next. This comes from the fact that many “features” of the accent are really just unintentional mispronunciations; adjusting how frequently we choose to utilize them can affect how thick the accent will sound. But while inconsistency is common in real life, as actors we must endeavor to make consistent choices so that our performances are repeatable. 

Let’s begin by covering some of the most common sound shifts you’ll want to try on when switching from a General American dialect to a Russian accent, starting with the vowels. If your own accent isn’t American, the shifts you need to make here may vary.

Vowel Shifts in a Russian Accent

1) The “short /i/”, [ɪ] as in KIT may move to a “long /i/”, [i] as in TREE

Bring in six images of the big ship. 

Tip: This change is simple to note on your script: simply replace every “short /i/” sound with “ee”

2) [ɛ] as in DRESS may move to a “short /i/”, [ɪ] as in KIT

Fred the elegant elephant was fed lemons in bed.

3) [æ] as in TRAP may move to [ɛ] as in DRESS

The fat cat had a bath and danced.

Tip: You can indicate this change on your script by replacing any “A” that makes the [æ] sound with an “E”

4) [ɑ] as in LOT is lip-rounded, closer to [ɒ]

I thought of calling Shaun this fall.

Tip: Round your lips on this sound, almost like you’re making a kissy-face. On its own, this sound change may feel British, but trust that when we add the additional features of the Russian accent, it will be distinct.

5) The “short /u/”, [ʊ] as in FOOT, may move to a “long /u/”, [u] as in GOOSE

The cook put away the book after he took a look. 

Tip: Once again, focus on rounding your lips on this sound, while simultaneously raising the tongue slightly in the back of your mouth.

6) [ʌ] as in STRUT may move to the back rounded vowel [ɒ], perhaps as in THOUGHT

My brother stumbled in a clump of shrubs above us.

Tip: This sound may also change based on the spelling of the word. For instance, “us” could be pronounced “oos”.

7) The vowels [eɪ̆] as in FACE and [oʊ̆] as in GOAT are two part vowels for Americans; the Russian speaker may cut these sounds in half, resulting in a sort of pure, “punchier” version of the vowel.

As a favor, my favorite flavor was placed on my plate. 

It’s only a stone’s throw to Rio. 

Tip: To practice these changes, try singing the American version of these vowel sounds in slow motion, then abruptly stop your voice before the vowel “finishes”.

Consonant Shifts in a Russian Accent

1) For every <R> sound, we may hear a “trilled-R”, where the front of the tongue rapidly flaps (commonly referred to as the “Spanish-R”). If this is difficult for you, try a singular tap instead, closer to a soft “D” sound.

The enriched rich red rose grew rotten. 

Tip: For those who find this difficult, use the practice phrase “Krispy Kreme”: replace the “R”s with “D”s: K’dispy K’deme. Try saying it very slowly, then work your way up to a rapid pace, and notice how the “R”s now sound closer to a trill?

2) Many consonant sounds will be “devoiced”, losing any activation of the vocal cords, including Zs and Js.

The wiz kid’s zit was risen.

Tip: Notice we often pronounce the letter “S” as “Z”s; not so in this accent, everything may feel like a true “S”.

Jerry jumped the judge and jury.

Tip: All the “J”s should now sound like “CH”s.

3) <W> sounds will often change to <V>s.

Which Wally will want to quit?

4) <TH> sounds will often change to <T> or <D>.

Give those things to them or they will go without.

Tip: Soften these sounds by producing them off the back of the teeth.

5) Every <L> should feel dark, almost swallowed in the mouth.

Lily’s light linen tablecloth cleaned nicely.

Tip: Pulling the tongue back to produce this sound can help to find the general mouth feel for a Russian accent, where everything might feel a bit more retracted.

6) Every <H> at the start of a word should happen with your tongue touching the soft-palate.

Happy hippos held their heads high.

Tip: It may feel like you’re clearing a scratch in the back of your mouth.

Musicality of the Russian Accent

The Russian accent often sounds much deeper compared to most accents of English. In addition, the general resonance of a Russian speaker might feel more retracted in the mouth, resulting in a sort of “darker” sound. Coupled together, it can feel like you’re swallowing everything towards your throat.

As with many ESL accents, speakers will often misplace emphasis within a word or phrase. For instance, “mistake” may sound like “MEEsteak”, “speculate” could be “speKYOOlate”, etc. There’s no right or wrong here, just be careful of overdoing this or you’ll start to sound like you’re doing a caricature of the accent, rather than anything authentic.

Russian speakers often eliminate the articles “a” and “the” when speaking, so the sentence, “I’m going to the store to buy a cucumber,” may instead sound like, “I’m going to store to buy cucumber.” Again, this can feel a bit over-the-top if used too much, though it is a popular trope among writers.

Finally, you may hear a certain increased nasality in the accent after nasal consonants (<N> and <M>), especially when preceding a short vowel. For instance, “beneath” may sound like “behNYEET”, “never” may be “NYEver”, etc.

Conclusion

A Russian accent can be very difficult for English-speaking actors to perform naturally, without going over-the-top. That said, don’t be afraid of starting with an extreme version of the accent and then pulling back over time. Practice all of the sound shifts on your own text. Then, imagine the “thickness” of the accent exists on a dial from 1-10; what happens if you turn the dial down a little bit? Then a little bit more? As in life, you’ll encounter characters who exist at every point on the dial. There is no right or wrong in regards to pronunciation when performing ESL accents, only how many features may sneak through to the English pronunciation. When in doubt, opt for simple choices that suggest the Russian accent without going over the top. You may also see audition breakdowns asking for “Eastern European” accents, and in those cases utilizing a very light version of the Russian accent will often produce acceptable results.

I’ve provided some links to example speakers below; be sure to give some a listen to hear the accent demonstrated properly.

Example Speakers

Note, Scott Alan Moffitt, The Actor's Dialect Coach claims no ownership of the material in the following links. They are provided for educational purposes only. Certain links may contain language or content not suitable for children.

Mikhail Baryshnikov | Charlie Rose

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Full Interview) | NBC News

Evgenia Medvedeva | Dream Crazier | Nike

Costa Ronin - audition tape

RUSSIAN ENGLISH SPEAKING GIRL - how russians speak english

Backstage with Evgenia Obraztsova

Russia warns it will protect its people in Syria

How Russians Speak English

Russian girl speaks English!!! (probably)

Russian speak English