Pronouncing English fricative sounds accurately can be challenging for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, particularly when the target sounds differ from those familiar in their first language. This study aimed to investigate the pronunciation ability and challenges experienced by second-semester students of the English Department at STAIN Mandailing Natal in pronouncing English fricative sounds. This study employed a quantitative descriptive research design. The participants consisted of 25 second-semester students who met the predetermined criteria. Data were collected through a pronunciation test and a questionnaire. The pronunciation test consisted of 24 words representing eight English fricative consonants: /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, and /ʒ/, with each sound presented in initial, medial, and final positions. The questionnaire consisted of 13 statements covering four indicators: Articulatory Difficulty, First Language Interference, Lack of Practice, and Low Confidence. The findings revealed an overall pronunciation accuracy of 61.83%, categorized as Fair. The /s/ sound obtained the highest accuracy (84%), while /ʒ/ obtained the lowest (29.33%). The questionnaire produced an overall mean score of 3.59, categorized as High. First Language Interference was the dominant challenge (3.97), followed by Articulatory Difficulty (3.76), Lack of Practice (3.45), and Low Confidence (3.16).