Why is P difficult for Arabic speakers?

Arabic does not have the /p/ sound, so speakers substitute /b/, which is made in the same place with the voice switched on. The fix is to practise /p/ with no voicing, using paper or a hand to check the puff of air.

Do I need to lose my accent?

No. The goal is to be understood the first time. Accent is not a problem; substituting sounds that change meaning, and stressing the wrong syllable, are.

How long does it take to fix a sound?

A single sound can usually be produced correctly in one session. Making it automatic in fast speech takes weeks of short daily practice with correction.

Can you work on pronunciation in a private class?

Yes. Pronunciation work is common in our private one-to-one classes: minimal pairs, recording, and live correction while you speak.

How much do English lessons cost in Morocco?

At Englify, small-group online English classes are the most affordable option and private one-to-one classes cost more per hour, because a private teacher works with one student only. Current group and private prices are confirmed on WhatsApp (+212 724 744 137) and on our prices page, since they depend on the format, the number of hours per week and the length of the plan. The trial class is free and no card is required.

English Pronunciation Problems Common Among Arabic Speakers

Arabic and English do not share the same sound inventory, so certain English sounds are predictably difficult. Knowing which ones lets you fix them deliberately instead of hoping they improve on their own.

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Written and reviewed by Mourade Boulanouar — Founder & Head of Teaching, EnglifyLast reviewed September 2026

In short

Arabic speakers most often struggle with six areas of English pronunciation: /p/ replaced by /b/, /v/ replaced by /f/, the two TH sounds, short vowels such as the ones in 'sit' and 'bed', consonant clusters at the start of words like 'street', and word stress. None of these are talent problems: each has a physical explanation and a specific drill. The fastest route is to work on one at a time, out loud, with someone correcting you in real time.

Key facts

/p/ and /b/: Arabic has no /p/, so 'pen' often becomes 'ben'
/v/ and /f/: Arabic has no /v/, so 'very' often becomes 'fery'
TH: both the voiced and unvoiced TH are usually replaced by /s/, /z/, /t/ or /d/
Short vowels: 'sit / seat' and 'bed / bad' are commonly merged
Consonant clusters: an extra vowel is often inserted, as in 'is-treet'
Word stress: stressing the wrong syllable hurts comprehension more than a single wrong sound

1. /p/ versus /b/

Arabic has /b/ but not /p/, so the brain substitutes the closest sound it owns. The two are made in the same place — both lips — and differ only in voicing: /p/ has no vibration in the throat, /b/ does.

Drill: hold a sheet of paper in front of your mouth. Say 'pen'. The paper should move. Say 'Ben'. It should barely move. Then practise pairs: pen/Ben, pack/back, cap/cab, pull/bull.

2. /v/ versus /f/

Arabic has /f/ but not /v/. They are made identically — top teeth on bottom lip — and again differ only in voicing.

Drill: say a long 'fffff', then switch on your voice without moving anything to get 'vvvvv'. Then pairs: fan/van, safe/save, ferry/very, leaf/leave.

3. The TH sounds

English has two TH sounds: unvoiced in 'think' and voiced in 'this'. Both require the tongue tip between or just touching the teeth, which does not happen in Arabic, so /s/, /z/, /t/ or /d/ get used instead.

Drill: put your tongue lightly between your teeth and push air out for 'think, thanks, three, month'. Then add voice for 'this, that, they, mother'. Exaggerate at first — you can relax it later.

4. Short vowels

English distinguishes vowel pairs that Arabic does not, so 'sit' and 'seat', or 'bed' and 'bad', can come out the same. Because these pairs carry meaning, this is worth more of your time than accent work.

Drill: work in minimal pairs and record yourself: sit/seat, ship/sheep, bed/bad, man/men, full/fool. Play it back and decide which word you actually said.

5. Consonant clusters

Arabic rarely begins a word with two or three consonants, so a helping vowel appears: 'street' becomes 'is-treet', 'spring' becomes 'is-pring'.

Drill: start from the end. Say 'reet', then 'treet', then 'street' — no pause and no vowel before the S. Do the same with 'spring', 'school', 'strong', 'splash'.

6. Word stress

English words have one strong syllable, and moving it can make a familiar word unrecognisable. 'PHOtograph', 'phoTOgrapher', 'photoGRAPHic' all shift the stress.

Drill: when you learn a new word, mark the stressed syllable in your notes and say it with an exaggerated beat. Stress errors cost more comprehension than most people expect.

How to actually fix these

Pronunciation improves through corrected repetition, not through reading explanations. Choose one sound per week, drill it for five minutes a day, and have someone tell you when you slip — that last part is what silent practice cannot provide.

Frequently asked questions

Practise this with a teacher

Reading about a mistake is not the same as fixing it. Book a free trial class on Google Meet and work on it out loud. Private classes cost 100 MAD per hour.