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/k/ — the /k/ sound

/k/

the /k/ sound

Consonants · Plosives

cat

This sound hasn't been scored yet.

Biibo

How to make it

Back of the tongue against the soft palate, then release. No voice.

Pairs with /g/ — same mouth shape, only the voicing differs.

Watch a native speaker say it

See the mouth and tongue before you record — hearing a sound rarely tells you where the tongue goes.

Rachel's English · English Sounds - G [g] and K [k] Consonants - How to make the G [g] and K [k] Consonants Watch on YouTube

More videos

Ultrasound and MRI of this soundOpens the Seeing Speech IPA chart (University of Glasgow): ultrasound tongue video and MRI of the sound being made.

Words with this sound

Tap the speaker to hear a native speaker say it.

  • act

    /æk/

  • cow

    /kaʊ/

  • ask

    /æsk/

  • back

    /bæk/

  • bake

    /beɪk/

  • bike

    /baɪk/

  • book

    /bʊk/

  • cake

    /keɪk/

  • call

    /kɔːl/

  • can

    /kæn/

  • car

    /kɑɹ/

  • care

    /ker/

Minimal pairs

Two words that differ by exactly one sound. Listen until you can tell them apart, then say them yourself.

  • back

    /bæk/

    k

    bag

    /bæɡ/

    g
  • act

    /æk/

    k

    app

    /ˈap/

    p
  • cake

    /keɪk/

    k

    bake

    /beɪk/

    b
  • act

    /æk/

    k

    at

    /æt/

    t
  • act

    /æk/

    k

    add

    /æd/

    d
  • call

    /kɔːl/

    k

    fall

    /fɔːl/

    f
  • can

    /kæn/

    k

    van

    /væn/

    v
  • back

    /bæk/

    k

    bath

    /bæθ/

    θ
Drill /k/ vs /g/

Test yourself on this sound

Read these 8 words in one recording. The AI scores every sound and tells you whether your /k/ came out right.