Street Isn't 'Shtreet'

In German, words like 'Stadt' and 'Sport' start with a soft 'sh' sound before the T or P — that's just how German works. English doesn't do this: 'street,' 'stop,' and 'spring' all start with a plain, flat 's,' the same hissy sound as in 'snake.' Carrying the German habit over makes 'street' sound like 'shtreet' to American ears, which can actually cause confusion, not just an accent. Try this two-minute check: say 'snake' first to lock in that flat 's' sound, then move straight into 'street' without changing your tongue position — 's-treet,' not 'sh-treet.' Repeat with 'stop' and 'spring,' always starting from that same flat 's.' It might feel like you're underdoing it at first, since German instincts want to add the 'sh.' That's normal — trust the flatter sound. With a bit of daily repetition, your S will stay crisp and clear no matter what consonant follows it.