Pronunciation of Plosives and Videos To Help You Say Them

Pronunciation of plosives can be tricky even for native English speakers. The way to say the sounds of these consonants can vary depending on their placement in a word, length, stress, and other factors. If you want to take your accent to the next level, learn how to pronounce plosives with confidence.

Plosives are consonants that are produced with the closure of the mouth. Most plosives are produced with the lips and tongue, but some can also be produced with the teeth, nose, or throat. Although there are many different plosive sounds, the most common ones are listed below. For more information about the individual plosives, check out the related article.

P

The sound of the letter “p” is produced by making a closure with the lips, tongue, and/or teeth, followed by a brief release. People often think of the “p” sound as a click, but it’s more of a “pop” than a “click.” Though it’s often described as a “p sound,” one should also be aware that there are also “b” and “t” plosives.

The “p” sound is often confused with the “b” sound, but the two aren’t the same. Sometimes, people say that the “b” sound is made by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth; however, the “b” sound is produced by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth, then releasing them.

B

The “b” sound is similar to the “p” sound, but it’s produced by making a closure with the lips, tongue, and/or teeth, then releasing them.

The “b” sound is often confused with the “p” sound, but the two aren’t the same. Sometimes, people say that the “b” sound is made by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth; however, the “b” sound is produced by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth, then releasing them.

D

The “d” sound is a voiced alveolar stop. The tip of the tongue is curled back toward the roof of the mouth. As with all stops, voicing causes the vibrating air to completely stop, resulting in an “un-popping” sound.

The “d” sound is often confused with the “t” sound, but the two aren’t the same. Sometimes, people say that the “d” sound is made by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth; however, the “d” sound is produced by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth, then releasing them.

T

The “t” sound is a voiced alveolar affricate. It’s similar to the “d” sound, but it’s produced by making a closure with the lips, tongue, and/or teeth, then releasing them quickly.

The “t” sound is often confused with the “d” sound, but the two aren’t the same. Sometimes, people say that the “t” sound is made by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth; however, the “t” sound is produced by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth, then releasing them.

K

The “k” sound is a voiced velar stop. The back of the tongue is raised toward the roof of the mouth, while the throat muscles are tightened to make a closure. As with all stops, voicing causes the vibrating air to completely stop, resulting in an “un-popping” sound.

The “k” sound is often confused with the “g” sound, but the two aren’t the same. Sometimes, people say that the “k” sound is made by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth; however, the “k” sound is produced by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth, then releasing them.

G

The “g” sound is a voiced velar affricate. The back of the tongue is raised slightly, and the curled portion is lifted toward the roof of the mouth, while the throat and mouth muscles are tightened to make a closure. As with all affricates, the sound is similar to a “j” sound, but it’s faster.

The “g” sound is often confused with the “k” sound, but the two aren’t the same. Sometimes, people say that the “g” sound is made by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth; however, the “g” sound is produced by closing the lips, the tongue, and/or the teeth, then releasing them.

Summary

These plosives are all very common and easy to say, so it’s good to get them down early! There are also some sounds that are similar to plosives, but aren’t called plosives, like the “ch” in “chocolate” and the “sh” in “shoe.”

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