# liltra — AI-Powered Pronunciation Training

> liltra is a free, browser-based pronunciation coaching app that uses AI to diagnose accents, identify specific phoneme errors, and create personalized drills. Built for language learners, actors, and public speakers.

## What liltra Does

liltra helps people speak more clearly in English and German through AI-driven pronunciation analysis:

1. **Accent Assessment**: Record 30 seconds of speech. Google Gemini AI analyzes your pronunciation patterns, identifies your native language influence, pinpoints specific problem sounds, and recommends targeted drills.

2. **Phoneme Drills**: Practice individual sounds (like the English TH, R, or German Ü) with guided exercises. Each drill includes example words, minimal pairs, common mistakes, and articulation diagrams showing exact tongue/lip placement.

3. **Script Practice**: Paste your own text (presentations, scripts, speeches) and practice pronunciation on real content. The app tracks which words you're reading in real-time using browser speech recognition, then sends the recording to Gemini for detailed phoneme-level analysis.

4. **Progress Tracking**: All progress data is stored in your browser's localStorage — no account required, no data sent to servers for storage. Track your score over time, see per-phoneme improvement, and review session history.

## Key Technical Details

- **AI Model**: Google Gemini 2.5 Flash for audio analysis
- **Privacy**: Voice recordings are processed in real-time and not stored. Progress data stays in browser localStorage.
- **No Account Required**: Full functionality without sign-up
- **Languages**: Interface available in English, German, Russian, Spanish, French. Pronunciation training covers English and German phonemes.
- **Browser Support**: Works on any device with a modern browser and microphone. Chrome, Safari, and Edge recommended.

## Learn & Resources Hub

The [Learn page](https://liltra.com/learn) is a central directory of all liltra pronunciation guides, practice tools, and resources. It organizes content by audience (actors, speakers, creators), practice type (script practice, sound guides), and tools (accent assessment, pricing). As new guides are published, they are added to this hub — making it the best starting point for exploring everything liltra offers.

## Who It's For

### Language Learners
Anyone learning English or German who wants to improve their pronunciation beyond what traditional language apps offer. liltra goes deeper than "you said it wrong" — it tells you exactly which phoneme was off, why your native language causes that specific error, and how to physically position your mouth to fix it.

### Actors
Actors need precise control over pronunciation for dialect work, accent coaching, and script delivery. liltra provides:
- Phoneme-level analysis that catches subtle sound substitutions
- Script practice mode for rehearsing actual performance material
- Articulation diagrams for understanding the physical mechanics of speech
- A practice-analyze-repeat loop designed for rehearsal workflows

### Script Practice Users
Anyone who needs to rehearse specific text — presentations, video scripts, audition lines, or speeches. liltra's script practice mode lets you:
- Paste any text and record yourself reading it aloud
- Get a word-level "heat map" showing which words were clear (green), acceptable (yellow), or need work (red)
- Hover over flagged words for specific phoneme-level feedback
- Re-record problem sections until the scoring improves
- Build muscle memory for your exact material before the real performance

### Video Creators
YouTubers, podcasters, and video content creators who need clear pronunciation for on-camera delivery. liltra provides:
- Script practice for rehearsing video intros, sponsorship reads, and tutorials
- Phoneme-level training to eliminate "blurred" sounds in fast-paced delivery
- Word-level heat maps showing which parts of your script need rework
- Targeted drills for technical vocabulary common in educational content

### YouTubers
YouTube content creators face unique pronunciation demands: intros and outros that are repeated across hundreds of videos, sponsorship reads with complex brand names, and educational scripts full of technical terminology. liltra's script practice mode lets creators paste their actual video script, record themselves reading it, and get word-by-word pronunciation feedback — identifying exactly which sounds need work before they hit record on camera. Combined with phoneme drills and progress tracking, it turns pronunciation practice into a pre-recording ritual.

### Script Pronunciation Practice
Anyone who needs to rehearse specific text with pronunciation-level feedback. liltra's dedicated script practice page explains how to paste your speech, presentation notes, or acting lines, read them aloud, and get phoneme-level AI feedback on every word. The workflow covers onboarding assessment, targeted drills for weak sounds, script rehearsal with per-word color-coded scoring, and progress tracking. Designed for actors, public speakers, podcasters, and anyone who needs to deliver prepared text clearly.

### Audition Preparation
Actors preparing for auditions need phoneme-level precision on their actual script material. liltra's script practice lets performers paste their sides, monologue, or callback material, read it aloud, and get word-by-word pronunciation scoring with a color-coded heatmap. It identifies which consonant clusters collapse under pressure, which vowels shift toward the native accent, and where consistency breaks between takes. Not a dialect coach replacement — a technical rehearsal tool for the sounds that need to be clean before the camera rolls.

### Podcasters
Podcasters rely entirely on audio — no visuals, no subtitles. Every mispronounced guest name, stumbled consonant cluster, or blurred vowel is amplified through earbuds. liltra helps podcasters rehearse episode scripts, sponsor reads, and guest introductions with phoneme-level AI feedback. Paste your script, read it aloud, and see word-by-word color-coded results showing exactly which sounds need work. Targeted drills for consonant clusters, TH sounds, and vowel precision help reduce retakes and editing time.

### German Pronunciation Coach
Learners of German who need targeted phoneme-level feedback on the sounds that define a German accent. liltra's German pronunciation coaching covers five core areas: Umlaute (ü, ö, ä), CH-Laute (ich-Laut /ç/ and ach-Laut /x/), the uvular German R (/ʁ/), vowel length contrasts, and Auslautverhärtung (final devoicing). The onboarding assessment detects the learner's native accent and maps L1-to-L2 transfer patterns to create personalized drill recommendations. Four practice modes — Listen, Record, Listen & Repeat, and Shadow — with spectrogram comparison and IPA articulation diagrams. Script practice lets learners paste their own German text and get word-level pronunciation scoring.

### German CH Sound
The German CH is two sounds governed by one simple rule. The soft Ich-Laut [ç] is a voiceless palatal fricative used after front vowels (i, e, ä, ö, ü), diphthongs (ei, eu, äu), consonants (l, n, r), and in the diminutive suffix -chen. The hard Ach-Laut [x] is a voiceless velar fricative used after back vowels (a, o, u) and the diphthong au. Common mistakes: English speakers substitute [ʃ] or [k], Spanish and Russian speakers overuse [x] for both variants, French speakers substitute [ʁ] or [ʃ]. liltra's CH-Laute drills cover both sounds with isolated practice, minimal pairs, words, and sentences. AI feedback identifies whether the learner produces the target [ç] or a common substitution.

### German R Sound
The German R is two sounds, not one. The consonantal R (/ʁ/) is a voiced uvular fricative used at word and syllable onsets — produced by raising the back of the tongue toward the uvula while the tongue tip stays down. The vocalic R (/ɐ/) appears after vowels and in unstressed -er endings, where it becomes a short relaxed "ah" vowel. Common mistakes: English speakers curl the tongue tip backward (retroflex /ɹ/), Spanish/Italian speakers substitute the alveolar trill, French speakers over-pronounce the final R. liltra's German R drills cover both sounds with isolated practice, minimal pairs, words, and sentences. AI feedback identifies whether the learner produces the target uvular /ʁ/ or a common substitution.

## German Umlauts Pronunciation
Liltra's guide to German umlauts (Ä, Ö, Ü) covers the phonetics of front rounded vowels, with IPA notation, tongue and lip placement instructions, common L1-specific mistakes (English, Spanish, Russian, French), minimal pairs for ear training, and structured practice from isolated sounds to full sentences. The page connects to liltra's dedicated Umlaute drill category with AI-powered phoneme-level feedback.

## How to Pronounce Ü in German
Dedicated guide to the German ü sound — both long [yː] (Tür, über) and short [ʏ] (f��nf, Glück). Covers the "ee tongue + oo lips" technique, the pencil trick and muesli bridge mnemonics, common substitution errors by language background (English, Russian, Spanish, French), minimal pairs showing meaning changes (Mutter/Mütter, drucken/drücken), the "safety vowel" strategy, and step-by-step practice from isolated sounds to full sentences. Connects to liltra's Umlaute drills with AI-powered phoneme-level feedback.

## How to Pronounce Ö in German
Dedicated guide to the German ö sound — both long [øː] (schön, hören) and short [œ] (öffnen, zwölf). Covers the "eh tongue + oh lips" technique, the mirror test for lip rounding, common substitution errors by language background (English "R-trap", Spanish, Russian, French, Turkish), minimal pairs showing meaning changes (schon/schön, konnte/könnte, fordern/fördern), and step-by-step practice from isolated sounds to full sentences. Connects to liltra's Umlaute drills with AI-powered phoneme-level feedback.

### English Speakers Learning German
English speakers learning German pronunciation face specific L1-to-L2 transfer challenges: Umlauts (ü /yː/ and ö /øː/) that don't exist in English, two CH sounds (Ich-Laut /ç/ and Ach-Laut /x/) with no English equivalent, systematic final devoicing (b→p, d→t, g→k) that English lacks, pure monophthong vowels vs. English diphthongs, and the uvular German R (/ʁ/). liltra's onboarding assessment detects English accent patterns and recommends targeted German drills. Five German-specific drill categories cover all these sounds with four practice modes and spectrogram comparison.

### Meeting Professionals
Non-native English speakers who need clear pronunciation for business meetings, standups, and client calls. liltra helps professionals rehearse actual meeting content — talking points, presentation scripts, anchor phrases — with phoneme-level AI feedback. Targets the specific sounds that reduce intelligibility in professional settings: word stress on business vocabulary, final consonant clusters that carry grammar, and the over-articulation needed for compressed video call audio. Designed for rehearsal before the meeting, not real-time feedback during it.

### Public Speakers
Professionals who present, lecture, or speak publicly benefit from:
- Clarity analysis that identifies sounds causing listener confusion
- Practice on their own presentation scripts and talking points
- Warm-up integration with vocal exercises
- Stress and intonation pattern training for natural delivery

## Pricing

- **Free**: Full access to accent assessment, all pronunciation drills, script practice, and progress tracking
- **Premium** (coming soon): Additional features for power users — waitlist available

## Sound Guides — English

### Voiceless TH (θ)
The voiceless TH sound /θ/ as in "think", "three", "bath". Place the tip of your tongue between or just behind your upper teeth. Blow air over the tongue without vibrating your vocal cords. Common substitutions: /s/ (think → sink), /t/ (three → tree), /f/ (bath → baf). Challenging for Russian, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and German speakers.

### Voiced TH (ð)
The voiced TH sound /ð/ as in "the", "this", "weather". Same tongue position as voiceless TH, but with vocal cord vibration. Common substitutions: /d/ (the → de), /z/ (breathe → breeze). Challenging for the same language groups as voiceless TH.

### English R (ɹ)
The English R sound /ɹ/ as in "red", "right", "very", "car". The tongue curls back without touching the roof of the mouth — different from the trilled or tapped R in most other languages. Common confusion: R/L distinction (right/light). Challenging for Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese speakers.

### Short A (æ)
The short A vowel /æ/ as in "cat", "bad", "man". Open your mouth wide with your tongue low and forward. Common substitutions: /ɛ/ (bat sounds like bet), /ɑː/ (cat sounds like cart). Challenging for Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, and Russian speakers.

### Short I vs Long E (ɪ/iː)
The distinction between short I /ɪ/ (ship, bit, sit) and long E /iː/ (sheep, beat, seat). Short I is relaxed and brief; long E requires more lip spreading and longer duration. Many learners make both sounds identical. Challenging for Spanish, Arabic, French, and Italian speakers.

### Word Stress
English is a stress-timed language — stressed syllables are louder, longer, and higher-pitched. Unstressed syllables reduce to schwa /ə/. Common error: stressing every syllable equally (syllable-timed rhythm). Key patterns: "PHOtograph" vs "phoTOGraphy", noun/verb stress shifts ("PREsent" vs "preSENT").

### English Intonation
Rising pitch for yes/no questions, falling for statements and wh-questions. Rise-fall for lists and choices. Common errors: flat intonation (sounds robotic), uptalk (rising at end of statements). Challenging for Mandarin speakers (tone interference), Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese speakers.

### Consonant Clusters
English allows complex consonant sequences like /str/ (street), /spl/ (splash), /nts/ (students), /ŋθs/ (strengths). Common errors: inserting vowels between consonants ("si-treet"), dropping consonants ("strengs"), simplifying clusters. Challenging for Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, and Mandarin speakers.

## Sound Guides — German

### German Ü (yː)
The German ü sound /yː/ as in "über", "grün", "Tür". Form an /iː/ (ee) with your tongue, then round your lips as if saying /uː/ (oo). The tongue stays forward while the lips round. Common error: pronouncing ü as plain /uː/. Challenging for English, Spanish, and Arabic speakers.

### German Ö (øː)
The German ö sound /øː/ as in "schön", "Vögel", "böse". Form an /eː/ with your tongue, then round your lips. Common error: pronouncing ö like English "er" or "uh". Challenging for English, Spanish, and Italian speakers.

### German CH (ç/x)
Two distinct sounds: the soft ich-Laut /ç/ (after front vowels: ich, Mädchen, Kirche) and the rough ach-Laut /x/ (after back vowels: acht, Kuchen, Bach). Common errors: using /ʃ/ (sh) for /ç/, using /k/ for /x/. Challenging for English, Spanish, and French speakers.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Do I need to be advanced already?**
No. liltra helps beginners hear their patterns and gives advanced learners the precision corrections they can't get anywhere else.

**Is Premium available yet?**
Not yet. Use it free today and join the waitlist for launch access and founding member pricing.

**What makes the feedback different from other apps?**
The score reflects actual phoneme accuracy — stress, rhythm, and consistency — so you understand what it measures and why it matters. Not a generic percentage.

**Is my voice data stored?**
Audio is processed in real-time and not permanently stored. Your progress data stays in your browser's local storage.

**Can I switch languages?**
Yes. Change your target language or native language at any time in settings. Progress is saved separately for each language pair.

**What devices are supported?**
Any device with a modern web browser and microphone. Chrome, Safari, or Edge recommended.

## Company

**Operator**: Artware Studio UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
**Address**: Wotanstr. 31, 80639 München, Germany
**Registration**: Amtsgericht München, HRB 295638
**Managing Director**: Arielle Diana Ostankov
**Contact**: hello@liltra.com
**Website**: https://liltra.com
**Twitter/X**: https://x.com/LiltraAI