If you’re a Russian speaker who already uses English daily, you might still find that certain English sounds never quite feel natural, or your accent sometimes makes you less easily understood. Many of my Russian-speaking clients are fluent and confident in English, but want to sound clearer, more British, and more professional. With targeted practice and the right strategies, you can absolutely improve your British accent and communication skills.
Key Differences Between Russian And British English Pronunciation
Russian and English have very different sound systems. Russian has 21 consonant sounds and 10 vowel sounds, while British English has a wider range of both. Some British English sounds do not exist in Russian, and English uses a stress-timed rhythm, while Russian is syllable-timed. These differences create unique pronunciation challenges for Russian speakers.
British English Vowel Pronunciation: Common Mistakes for Russian Speakers
- The /ɜː/ sound (as in “work,” “worse,” “worth”) does not exist in Russian, making these words tricky to pronounce.
- The /aː/ sound is often replaced by a more frontal /a/, and /æ/ tends to sound like /e/, so “sat” and “set” can sound the same.
- The /ɔː/ sound is often replaced by /o/ or the diphthong /oʊ/, causing confusion between “cot,” “caught,” and “coat.”
- Long vowel sounds are often not held long enough, so there’s less differentiation between words like “seat” and “sit.”
- Single vowel sounds may be pronounced as a glide with an extra vowel, such as /ɒ/ as /wɒ/, /ɔː/ as /əʊ/, and /ɜː/ as /eə/.
- The second or third part of English diphthongs may be overpronounced, making words sound unnatural.
- “i” and “e” confusion: /ɪ/ (as in “bit”) and /e/ (as in “bet”) are often mixed up, so “sit” and “set” can sound similar.
- Diphthongs like in “go” (/əʊ/), “say” (/eɪ/), and “my” (/aɪ/) may be reduced to single vowels or overpronounced.
- The schwa /ə/ (as in “sofa,” “banana”) is not present in Russian, so Russian speakers may pronounce every vowel distinctly, making speech sound unnatural.
British English Consonant Pronunciation: Common Mistakes for Russian Speakers
- The /θ/ sound (as in “think”) is usually replaced with /s/ (“sink” instead of “think”), and /ð/ (as in “this”) is replaced with /z/ (“zis” instead of “this”).
- The sounds /t/, /d/, /l/, and /n/ are often made with the tongue touching the teeth instead of the alveolar ridge, changing their quality.
- Voiceless and voiced plosives can be interchanged, and voiced plosives may be aspirated when they shouldn’t be, leading to swaps like /p/ and /b/ (“lap” and “lab”), /t/ and /d/ (“set” and “said”), and /k/ and /g/ (“pick” and “pig”).
- The /h/ sound might be produced more harshly, similar to the Scottish “loch.”
- Russian speakers often use a “dark l” even in words where British English uses a “light l.”
- The sounds /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/, and /dʒ/ are often palatalised, making them sound different from native British English.
- The /j/ sound is more fricative, produced with more air than necessary.
- The British English /ɹ/ (“r”) is often pronounced at the end of words, which is not typical in Received Pronunciation.
- The /dʒ/ sound may be pronounced as two separate sounds, rather than gliding them together smoothly.
- Consonant clusters (like “tasks,” “strength,” “world”) can be difficult; Russian speakers may insert extra vowels or drop sounds.
- Final consonant devoicing: “dog” may sound like “dock.”
- The /w/ and /v/ confusion: “wine” may sound like “vine.”
- The “ng” /ŋ/ sound: “sing” may be pronounced as “sink.” Practise keeping the back of your tongue raised for /ŋ/ without adding a final /k/ or /g/ sound.
Rhythm, Intonation, And Connected Speech
Russian is syllable-timed, while English is stress-timed. This can make Russian-accented English sound flat or choppy. Practise English word stress, linking words together, and reducing unstressed syllables to sound more natural. Russian speakers may also use a more monotone pitch—listen to native speakers and practise copying their melody and rhythm.
Want To Change Your Accent? Work With A British Accent Coach!
Improving your British accent is absolutely possible, no matter how long you’ve spoken English. Focus on one sound at a time, record yourself, and listen back for progress. Consistent practice and expert feedback from a British accent coach will make a huge difference.
If you’re ready to sound more natural and confident, sign up for my British English online accent membership for expert-led training, practice materials, and a supportive community. Or, for a personalised approach, book a call with me for 1:1 coaching tailored to your unique goals.