First of all I'm not confused about how this letter is pronounced. I've been taught it's the former pronunciation all along and none of the dictionaries recognise the latter. But I observed there has been an increasing surge of people, many YouTubers included, that adopted the /heɪtʃ/ pronunciation, which vexed me to no end. I even saw some teachers of English pronounced the letter like that, which is alarming to say the least.

Hello everyone!

I'm seeking some advice and tips on a specific pronunciation challenge I've been facing with the English language: using the 'H' sound naturally in conversation. (Context: I'm Portuguese and all H's are silent at the beginning of words)

While I understand when the 'H' sound should and shouldn't be used in words, my difficulty lies in applying this knowledge spontaneously during speech. In the flow of conversation, I often find myself unintentionally omitting the 'H' where it’s needed (like saying 'old' instead of 'hold') or adding it where it’s not required (like saying 'harm' instead of 'arm'). This tends to happen without me realizing it at the moment, and it's particularly tricky with words that change meaning completely based on the 'H' sound.

Interestingly, I can pronounce common words like 'how' and 'here' correctly without much thought. It's the less frequent or similar-sounding words where I falter.

I'm looking for strategies or exercises that might help me internalize the correct use of the 'H' sound so that it becomes more automatic and natural in my everyday speech. If anyone has experienced similar challenges or has any insights on how to make this aspect of pronunciation more intuitive, your advice would be incredibly valuable.

How did you train yourself to use the 'H' sound correctly in fluid conversation? Are there specific practice methods or mindfulness techniques that you found effective?

Thank you all for your help and support. I'm eager to read your suggestions and learn from your experiences!