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PRONUNCIATION: BASIC SOUNDS
The G Sound and the K Sound
/ɡ/ and /k/

GOAL

I can make the G sound and the K sound.

TRY IT!

Read the sentence below.

Kevin’s bag looks like an egg.

SOUNDS

Learn how to pronounce today's sounds.
Sound Profile

/ɡ/

Voicing

yes

Mouth

slightly open ➡ open

Lips

Teeth

Tongue

the back of the tongue touching the far back of the mouth (on top) ➡ dropped down

Jaw

neutral ➡ slightly down

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth.

  2. Press the back of your tongue up against the far back of your mouth.

  3. Make a voiced sound. At the same time, drop your tongue and jaw down.

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the G sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

dog ➡ doggu(ドッグ)

bag ➡baggu (バッグ)

mug ➡ magu kappu (マグカップ)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

/k/

Voicing

no

Mouth

slightly open ➡ open

Lips

Teeth

Tongue

the back of the tongue touching the far back of the mouth (on top) ➡ dropped down

Jaw

neutral ➡ slightly down

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth.

  2. Press the back of your tongue up against the far back of your mouth.

  3. Exhale. At the same time, drop your tongue and jaw down.

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the K sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

quick ➡ kuikku (クイック)

magic ➡ majikku (マジック)

kick ➡ kikku (キック)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth.

  2. Press the back of your tongue up against the far back of your mouth.

  3. Make a voiced sound. At the same time, drop your tongue and jaw down.

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth.

  2. Press the back of your tongue up against the far back of your mouth.

  3. Exhale. At the same time, drop your tongue and jaw down.

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the G sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

dog ➡ doggu(ドッグ)

bag ➡baggu (バッグ)

mug ➡ magu kappu (マグカップ)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the K sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

quick ➡ kuikku (クイック)

magic ➡ majikku (マジック)

kick ➡ kikku (キック)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

WORDS

Practice today’s sounds in the words below.

/ɡ/

gift

bag

dog

leg

big

great

/k/

cat

kitchen

key

kite

koala

cup

SENTENCES

Practice today’s sounds in the sentences below.

/ɡ/

  1. The big grey dog jumped over my bag.
  2. Gavin gave me a gift.
  3. Grace’s legs are long.
  4. Gabby got a great score on her geography test.
  5. I’ll give you some eggs, goat cheese, and grapes.

/k/

  1. Kate wanted a cup with a koala design.
  2. I was looking for my cat in the kitchen.
  3. Ken keeps his keys in his pockets.
  4. Kenny met the kind king in the castle.
  5. I like flying kites with Kevin.

/ɡ/ + /k/

  1. Kayla got a gold cap this Christmas.
  2. Kevin’s bag looks like an egg.
  3. Grace bought cookies at the Garden Café.
  4. Mom is cooking chicken legs in goat milk in the kitchen.
  5. Gabby’s cousin gave her a big kiss.

DIALOGUES

Practice today’s sounds in the dialogues below.

/ɡ/

Student:

Hey, Gavin! I finally got the golden egg in the game!
Tutor:

That’s great! How did you get it?
Student:

The ghost at the big green gate gave it to me.
Tutor:

Nice! I’ll go and get it later in the game. What does the golden egg give you?
Student:

It gives you gold and lots of gifts!

/k/

Student:

I can’t find a unique present for Kayla!
Tutor:

Buy her a cupcake book! She likes cupcakes!
Student:

Mica already bought her one. I want to buy her a new cup, but I can’t find one with cats on it!
Tutor:

Hmm… The Kite Café on Corn Street sells cool cups. Maybe they have some cat cups.
Student:

Oh, okay! I like that café! They sell really nice chocolate chip cookies too!

/ɡ/ + /k/

Tutor:

I’m going to fly kites with Greg at the park tomorrow. Do you want to come with us?
Student:

That sounds great! But I’m going to the zoo with Ken. We want to see the new koalas and king cobras.
Tutor:

Oh, okay. Are you going to the Columbus Zoo in Kentucky?
Student:

Yeah! I want to see the gorillas and the kangaroos there too.

TRY IT AGAIN!

Reread the sentence below.

Kevin’s bag looks like an egg.