The /dʒ/ Sound, Voiced Palato-Alveolar Affricate
/dʒ/
/dʒ/ is a voiced palato-alveolar affricate. To make it, the blade of the tongue rises towards the area between the alveolar ridge and the hard palate and a full stop is released slowly into friction. It is voiced, so the vocal folds vibrate.
Often called the j sound.
Example Words
| Word | UK | US | |
|---|---|---|---|
| jam | /dʒæm/ | /dʒæm/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| magic | /ˈmædʒ.ɪk/ | /ˈmædʒ.ɪk/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| bridge | /brɪdʒ/ | /brɪdʒ/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
Distinctive Features
/dʒ/ is told apart from every other English sound by three distinctive features.
Allophones Of /dʒ/
/dʒ/ has 1 allophone in the app, starting with [dʒʷ], a consonant immediately before /w/ or a rounded vowel. The full list, where each occurs and the examples are in Allophones, which opens with any course or with Adroit Plus.
Words With The /dʒ/ Sound
/dʒ/ At The Start Of A Word
- gem
- gym
- jam
- jar
- jaw
- jet
- job
- jog
- joy
- jug
- gaol
- gene
- germ
- gibe
- jail
- jazz
- jeer
- jest
- join
- joke
- jolt
- july
- jump
- june
- junk
- jury
- genus
- giant
- jaunt
- jeans
/dʒ/ In The Middle Of A Word
- magi
- agent
- angel
- banjo
- eject
- elegy
- enjoy
- logic
- magic
- major
- pudgy
- rigid
- vigil
- adjoin
- adjust
- agency
- agenda
- badger
- budget
- cajole
- danger
- energy
- engine
- eulogy
- fidget
- frigid
- gadget
- ginger
- hijack
- inject
/dʒ/ At The End Of A Word
- age
- cage
- edge
- huge
- page
- rage
- urge
- wage
- badge
- barge
- binge
- budge
- bulge
- dirge
- dodge
- forge
- gauge
- gorge
- gouge
- hedge
- hinge
- image
- judge
- large
- ledge
- lodge
- lunge
- merge
- nudge
- purge
Minimal Pairs
Questions Students Ask
Is /dʒ/ voiced or voiceless?
/dʒ/ is voiced.
What is the place of articulation of /dʒ/?
/dʒ/ is palato-alveolar, which means the blade of the tongue rises towards the area between the alveolar ridge and the hard palate.
What is the manner of articulation of /dʒ/?
/dʒ/ is a affricate, which means a full stop is released slowly into friction.
Which words have the /dʒ/ sound?
For example jam, magic, bridge.