Hello Needs a Gentle H, Not a Dutch G

Dutch 'g' and 'ch' are strong, rough sounds made by scraping air at the back of your throat, think of 'gracht' or 'nacht'. When English asks for a simple 'h', as in 'hello', 'house', or 'behind', some Dutch speakers carry over that same rough, throat-scraping friction, making these words sound harsher than intended to American ears. The English 'h' is actually much gentler, it's really just a puff of breath, with no scraping or friction at all, almost like quietly fogging up a mirror. Try saying 'house' with just a soft, open breath before the vowel, no throat tension at all; compare that to the much rougher Dutch 'ch' sound in 'nacht', which uses real friction. Practice the words 'hello', 'hotel', and 'behind', keeping your throat completely relaxed and open, letting the breath flow freely rather than scraping. For today's two-minute practice, breathe out gently onto the back of your hand while saying 'h, h, h', you should feel warm air, not a rasp. This small adjustment makes your h's sound noticeably lighter and more natural.