Learn how to pronounce the words LESSON & LESSEN with this American English Pronunciation Lesson.

Pronunciation:

These words are homophones and are pronounced exactly the same way: /lɛsən/ or L-short e-S-short u-N.

You can think of it as two syllables: LE-SUN, LE-SIN, or LE-SEN.  Just be sure that syllable number 2 is unstressed meaning it is shorter, softer, and lower in pitch.

Definitions:

LESSON is period of teaching.

LESSEN means to diminish.

Sentence:

She drank extra coffee to lessen her fatigue during the long lesson.

Transcript:

Hello everyone it’s Jennifer with your two for Tuesday homophone lesson. These words are pronounced exactly the same way.

We have the word
lesson which is a period of teaching
and lesson meaning to diminish

So to say these words correctly we have two beats: le sun lesson

Now I do have written here i’m going to teach this as sun. I think it’s easy to remember because we see the sun in the sky; however, you can pronounce it as sin or sen. The key is for that second syllable is, the second syllable is unstressed so that vowel must be very short and unstressed.

All right so let’s start with the le syllable. To do this touch the tip of your tongue to the back of your top front teeth and then you’re going to pull it down. Mouth is going to continue to stay open and then you’re going to see the tip of your tongue between your top and your bottom teeth.

Next you’re going to move to the sun and to do this tip of the tongue is either pointed down or just behind the top front teeth air continues to move out of your mouth. Add the short uh just a super relaxed mouth. And then end with the n by touching the tip of the tongue to the back of the top front teeth.

Let’s put that together:

lesson lessen
lesson lessen
lesson lessen

And now for a sentence:

She drank extra coffee to lessen her fatigue during the long lesson.

Give it a try I know people are going to notice the difference. If you found this helpful please share this with your friends and give us a like. Don’t forget to subscribe and check out our products and classes at Tarle speech dot com.

Thanks everyone have a great week!