The /ɡ/ Sound, Voiced Velar Plosive
/ɡ/
/ɡ/ is a voiced velar plosive. To make it, the back of the tongue touches the soft palate (the velum) and the airflow is stopped completely and then released. It is voiced, so the vocal folds vibrate.
Often called the g sound.
Example Words
| Word | UK | US | |
|---|---|---|---|
| go | /ɡəʊ/ | /ɡoʊ/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| again | /əˈɡen/ | /əˈɡen/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| bag | /bæɡ/ | /bæɡ/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
Distinctive Features
/ɡ/ is told apart from every other English sound by three distinctive features.
Allophones Of /ɡ/
/ɡ/ has 3 allophones in the app, starting with [ɡ̚], a word-final plosive. The full list, where each occurs and the examples are in Allophones, which opens with any course or with Adroit Plus.
Words With The /ɡ/ Sound
/ɡ/ At The Start Of A Word
- go
- gag
- gap
- gas
- get
- gum
- gun
- guy
- gain
- gait
- gale
- game
- gang
- gape
- garb
- gash
- gasp
- gate
- gave
- gawk
- gaze
- gear
- gift
- gild
- gird
- girl
- give
- glad
- glee
- glow
/ɡ/ In The Middle Of A Word
- ago
- ego
- exam
- exit
- ogle
- ogre
- saga
- ugly
- yoga
- again
- agony
- agree
- algae
- anger
- angle
- angry
- argon
- argue
- bagel
- began
- begin
- begun
- bigot
- bogey
- bugle
- cargo
- eager
- eagle
- exact
- exalt
/ɡ/ At The End Of A Word
Minimal Pairs
Questions Students Ask
Is /ɡ/ voiced or voiceless?
/ɡ/ is voiced.
What is the place of articulation of /ɡ/?
/ɡ/ is velar, which means the back of the tongue touches the soft palate (the velum).
What is the manner of articulation of /ɡ/?
/ɡ/ is a plosive, which means the airflow is stopped completely and then released.
Which words have the /ɡ/ sound?
For example go, again, bag.