Why Your Plurals Might Sound Like They End in T

In Hungarian, word endings are clear and consistent, so when English throws you an 's' sound at the end of a word, your ear and mouth might default to something closer to 't' - a documented mix-up for Hungarian speakers. Try saying 'cats,' 'hopes,' and 'students' out loud: do you feel a real hiss at the end, or does it clip off too fast? English needs that 's'/'z' sound to fully finish, with your tongue near your teeth and air flowing through - not stopped like a 't'. Today, pick five plural words you use often ('books,' 'friends,' 'days') and say them slowly, holding the final sound for a full second. Record yourself and listen back - can you hear the hiss or buzz? This small fix makes your endings - and your meaning - much clearer to listeners. You've got this; one sound at a time!