The problem
A lot of Spanish speakers say "ma-CHine" or "hierar-CHy". People still understand you, but it pulls attention away from your idea for a second. In Spanish, "ch" always sounds the same. In English, it has three sounds, and the spelling doesn't tell you which one. The good news: you don't need to memorize a list. Where the word comes from usually tells you the sound.
The rule
- CH /tʃ/: most words. sketch, approach, chart, launch
- SH /ʃ/: newer words from French. machine, niche, cache, brochure
- K /k/: words from Greek. hierarchy, schema, archive, character
So when a word looks technical or academic, try K first. When it looks a bit French, try SH.
Practice
Four short rounds, about 5 minutes. Say each word out loud, then pick the sound you used. Tap a sound card at the top if you want to hear it first. Be honest with yourself in the last round. A slip you notice is a slip you can fix.
Want feedback on how you actually sound? Book a free intro call.
