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Discover some of the most comprehensive and precise methods to pronounce G
Letter G in English has fairly easy and memorable pronunciation. PREP will offer insights and exercises on how to pronounce G in the article below. Keep it handy for achieving accurate and natural pronunciation.
I. Introduction to letter G in English
In the English alphabet, G is the 7th consonant, with a fairly simple and easy-to-remember pronunciation. Here are some vocabulary examples that include the G sound, which you can use as references!
Word & Pronunciation | Example | |
Gabby | /ˈɡæb.i/ | She’s very gabby, she talks a lot. |
Gadget | /ˈɡædʒ.ət/ | I love trying out new gadgets. |
Gain | /ɡeɪn/ | I hope to gain some new skills this year. |
Gallery | /ˈɡæl.ɚ.i/ | We visited an art gallery last weekend. |
Gamble | /ˈɡæm.bəl/ | I don’t like to gamble, it’s too risky. |
Gap | /ɡæp/ | There’s a gap in the fence. |
Garage | /ɡəˈrɑːʒ/ | I parked my car in the garage. |
Garden | /ˈɡɑːr.dən/ | She spends hours working in her garden. |
Gather | /ˈɡæð.ɚ/ | Let’s gather all the information we need. |
Generate | /ˈdʒen.ə.reɪt/ | The new project should generate more sales. |
II. A comprehensive and accurate guide on how to pronounce G In English
Below are 5 ways to pronounce G that you should be aware of:
1. G is pronounced as /g/
Letter G is pronounced /g/ when followed by any letter except e, i, y. To pronounce the /g/ sound:
- Step 1: Place the tip of your tongue behind your lower teeth.
- Step 2: Slightly arch the back of your tongue upwards.
- Step 3: Push air out through your breath and pull your tongue back.
- Step 4: When you feel the back of your tongue touch the soft palate, stop pushing air out.
- Step 5: Push air out through your mouth while articulating the /g/ sound.
Examples:
- Game /ɡeɪm/
- Good /ɡʊd/
- Figure /ˈfɪɡjər/
- Drag /dræɡ/
2. G is pronounced as /ʒ/
G is pronounced as /ʒ/ as follows:
- Step 1: Place the tip of your tongue near the alveolar ridge just behind your upper front teeth, in the position used to make the /s/ sound.
- Step 2: Vibrate your vocal cords and push air upwards from your lungs out of your mouth.
- Step 3: The tongue tip creates friction with the alveolar ridge as the air passes over it.
- Step 4: When articulating the sound, be sure to keep your lips relaxed and not overly tense.
G is pronounced as /ʒ/ in the following words:
Word | UK | US |
Massage | /məˈsɑːʒ/ | /ˈmæsɑːʒ/ |
Regime | /reɪˈʒiːm/ | /ˈreɪdʒiːm/ |
3. G is pronounced as /dʒ/
The letter G is pronounced /dʒ/ when followed by the vowels E, I or Y. To pronounce the /dʒ/ sound:
- Step 1: Place your tongue behind your front teeth and lift the back of your tongue towards the top of your mouth.
- Step 2: Curl the tip of your tongue and place it behind your top front teeth, near the alveolar ridge.
- Step 3: Raise and extend your tongue towards your lips.
- Step 4: Produce the /d/ sound by pushing your tongue out, then hold it in place to articulate the /ʒ/ sound as mentioned in step 2.
Example:
- Village: /ˈvɪlɪdʒ/
- Page: /peɪdʒ/
- Age: /eɪdʒ/
- Religion: /rɪˈlɪdʒən/
Exception: The letter G standing before e, i, and y is still pronounced as /g/:
- Get /ɡet/
- Tiger /ˈtaɪɡər/
- Gear /ɡɪr/
- Gift /ɡɪft/
- Gone /ɡɒn/
- Hamburger /ˈhæmbɜː(r)ɡər/
4. G is pronounced as /ŋ/
The letter G is pronounced /ŋ/ when it is a part of the "ng" digraph. /ŋ/ is a nasal consonant produced in the same position as /k/ and /g/, so when pronouncing it, the back of the tongue is raised and touches the soft palate while voicing travels through the nose. For example,
- Sing: /sɪŋ/
- Running: /ˈrʌnɪŋ/
- Song: /sɒŋ/
- Singer: /ˈsɪŋə(r)/
5. G is silent
This is the last way to pronounce G in English that PREP will introduce you. Letter G is silent when preceding n (in any position of the word). For example:
- Gnash: /næʃ/
- Gnaw: /nɔː/
- Gnat: /næt/
G is silent when preceding n, m (n, m are the final letters of the word). For example:
- Sign /saɪn/
- Design /dɪˈzaɪn/
- Designation /ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/
- Signature /ˈsɪɡnətʃər/
- Paradigmatic /ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk/
- Paradigm /ˈpærədaɪm/
However, there are still exceptions:
- Mango /ˈmæŋɡoʊ/
- Singing /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/
- Ringing /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
III. Exercises on how to pronounce G in English with detailed answers
Below are some exercises on how to differentiate ways of pronouncing G in English:
1. Exercise 1: Write the pronunciation of the following words
Again | Gather | Government | Guess | Grow |
Group | Message | Rage | Age | Gallery |
Answers:
Again | Gather | Government | Guess | Grow |
/əˈɡen/ | /ˈɡæðər/ | /ˈɡʌvərnmənt/ | /ɡɛs/ | /ɡroʊ/ |
Group | Message | Rage | Age | Gallery |
/ɡruːp/ | /ˈmɛsɪdʒ/ | /reɪdʒ/ | /eɪdʒ/ | /ˈɡæləri/ |
2. Exercise 2: Put the following words in the column with the corresponding G pronunciation
Wagon, Grass, Engineer, Vegetables, Bag, Germany, Egypt, Girl, Together, Language, Marriage, Cigarette | |
/g/ | /dʒ/ |
|
|
Answers:
/g/ | /dʒ/ |
Wagon Grass Vegetables Bag Germany Egypt Girl Together Language | Engineer Marriage Cigarette |
3. Exercise 3: Choose the word whose bold part is pronounced differently from the other words
- A.general B. dangerous C. game D. engine
- A. original B. hungry C. guide D. grocery
- A. energy B. gift C. biology D. grocery
- A. glacier B. glad C. given D. average
- A. goal B. god C. grow D. language
Answers:
- C. game
- C. guide
- D. grocery
- D. average
- D. language
Above are all detailed instructions on how to pronounce G most completely. Practice every day to have the best pronunciation reflexes in communication and English exam preparation!
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