Basic consonant sounds: s, m, t, p, n, c/k, b, d, g, h
Short answer: These ten letters give the first consonant sounds of English: /s/, /m/, /t/, /p/, /n/, /k/ (c or k), /b/, /d/, /g/ and /h/. Say each one short and clean, with no extra vowel. Voiceless sounds (/s/ /t/ /p/ /k/ /h/) have only air; voiced sounds (/m/ /n/ /b/ /d/ /g/) make your throat buzz.
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At a glance
| Letter | Sound | Example | Voice |
|---|---|---|---|
| s | /s/ | sun | air only |
| m | /m/ | map | buzz |
| t | /t/ | top | air only |
| p | /p/ | pig | air only |
| n | /n/ | net | buzz |
| c / k | /k/ | cat, kit | air only |
| b | /b/ | bed | buzz |
| d | /d/ | dog | buzz |
| g | /g/ | go | buzz |
| h | /h/ | hat | air only |
How to make the sound
- Say each sound short, with no extra vowel: /t/, not “tuh”.
- Touch your throat. A buzz means voiced; air only means voiceless.
- Put the sound at the start of a word: sun, map, top.
- Read a short list aloud: sun, map, top, pig, net, cat, bed, dog, hat.
Examples in sentences
- sun
/s/ then /ʌ/ then /n/: /sʌn/. - map
/m/ at the start: /mæp/. - top
/t/ at the start: /tɑp/. - pig
/p/ with a small puff of air: /pɪg/. - cat
c says /k/ here: /kæt/. - dog
/d/ at the start: /dɔg/.
Common problems
- Adding a vowel: Saying “buh” or “tuh”. Keep each consonant short.
- Mixing voiced and voiceless: pig and big start with /p/ and /b/. Check the buzz.
- Reading c always as /s/: Before a, o, u, c says /k/ (cat, cup).
For Vietnamese speakers
- Vietnamese has no strong puff after /p/, /t/ and /k/ at the start of a word. In English, they are released with a small puff of air.
- Final /p/, /t/, /k/ and /g/ matter in English. Do not drop them.
Check yourself
- Is /b/ voiced or voiceless?
Show the answer
Voiced. Your throat buzzes.
- What sound does “c” make in “cat”?
Show the answer
/k/ Before a, o, u.
- Which pair differs by the buzz?
Show the answer
pig – big /p/ is voiceless, /b/ is voiced.
Questions
How can I check if a sound is voiced?
Touch your throat and say the sound. A buzz means voiced.
Why do I add a vowel when I say a sound alone?
It is a habit from other languages. Say the consonant short and quick, with no vowel.
Is the letter h always /h/?
At the start of a word, yes (hat). In some words it is silent, such as hour.
More lessons in this part
Part of the 👄 Pronunciation tool: Phonics & Word Decoding. See also the English pronunciation guide. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30