Consonants that pile up in the middle

1. 1
   strength/streŋkθ/iAlso said streŋθ.

   noun

   Being strong.
2. 2
   sculpture/ˈskʌlptʃər/

   noun

   Art shaped into a solid form.
3. 3
   anxious/ˈæŋkʃəs/iAlso said ˈæŋʃəs.

   adjective

   Worried about what might happen.
4. 4
   handsome/ˈhænsəm/

   adjective

   Good-looking.
5. 5
   exactly/ɪɡˈzæktli/

   adverb

   No more and no less.
6. 6
   empty/ˈempti/iAlso said ˈemti.

   adjective

   Holding nothing.
7. 7
   inspect/ˌɪnˈspekt/

   verb

   Look at closely.
8. 8
   kindness/ˈkaɪndnəs/

   noun

   Being warm and caring toward others.
9. 9
   obstacle/ˈɑːbstəkəl/

   noun

   Something in your way.
10. 10
    instrument/ˈɪnstrəmənt/

    noun

    A tool that takes skill to use.

The sentences

1. I didn't have the strength to cook last night.

2. We saw a huge metal sculpture in the park.

3. I felt anxious all morning before my interview.

4. Her brother turned out to be really handsome.

5. That's exactly what I told my boss yesterday.

6. The office was almost empty by the afternoon.

7. The landlord came to inspect the apartment yesterday.

8. I was surprised by the kindness of my neighbors.

9. The rain was our biggest obstacle all week.

10. I finally started learning a new instrument this week.

Pronunciation

• strength/streŋkθ/

  A small k sound slips in before the th, so it sounds like "strenkth."

• sculpture/ˈskʌlptʃər/

  The t sounds like the ch in "church": SKULP-cher.

• anxious/ˈæŋkʃəs/

  The x sounds like "ksh": ANK-shus.

• handsome/ˈhænsəm/

  The d is silent: HAN-sum.

• exactly/ɪɡˈzæktli/

  The x sounds like the "gz" in "eggs": ig-ZAKT-lee.

Good to know

small talk

Americans often open a conversation with a friendly question like "How was your week?" and expect a short, upbeat answer. Long complaints are usually kept for close friends.

How are you?

This is usually a greeting, not a real question. The normal reply is a quick "Good, you?" and then you move on.

first names

Most people use first names quickly, even with a boss, a landlord or a neighbor. Titles like Mr. or Ms. are mostly for formal or first meetings.

Questions

How do you pronounce the x in anxious?

The x sounds like "ksh", so the word is ANK-shus.

Is the d in handsome silent?

Yes, the d is silent, so it sounds like HAN-sum.

What can I say about a tiring day?

You can say "I didn't have the strength to cook last night." Strength means being strong.