American English Pronunciation of Voiced and Unvoiced Consonants


HOME | Pronunciation of B vs. P in English

Look on the mirror and copy this exact position while producing the  voiced and unvoiced sounds.

 

The lips' position of B and P is

exactly the same. The vocal

cords, however, produce sound

at B but no sound at P

 

Voiced - use your vocal cords to produce sound

at the same time as air comes out through

your teeth and lower lip

Unvoiced - do not use your vocal cords;

only air comes out through your teeth and lower lip

    

Notice the position of the teeth touching the inner-lower lip

 

Use a mirror to see the position

of your lips, and

DO NOT CHANGE IT

at all. Click on the red and green

icons to hear the pronunciation.

 /mbə/ Listen carefully and repeat the sound exactly /phə/ Listen carefully and repeat the sound exactly  
  

Now, practice sounding the words using a mirror to monitor the position of your lips

 

 
/mbə/ You have to produce the sound with your nose and your lips at the same time

voiced

/mbə/

bat /mbat/

bet /mbet/

bit /mbit/

bot /mbot/

but /mbut/

/phə/ You have to produce the sound "h (silent / unvoiced)" after "p"

unvoiced

/phə/

pat /phat/

pet /phet/

pit /phit/

pot /phot/

put /phut/

Practice repeating then saying these words.

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