k
Consonant
/k/ — Voiceless velar stop
Example words
| Word | US English | UK English |
|---|---|---|
| cat | /ˈkæt/ | /kæt/ |
| sky | /ˈskaɪ/ | /skaɪ/ |
| back | /ˈbæk/ | /bæk/ |
| key | /ˈki/ | /kiː/ |
| kind | /ˈkaɪnd/ | /kaɪnd/ |
| cold | /ˈkoʊld/ | /kəʊld/ |
| school | /ˈskul/ | /skuːl/ |
| look | /ˈlʊk/ | /lʊk/ |
| book | /ˈbʊk/ | /bʊk/ |
| make | /ˈmeɪk/ | /meɪk/ |
Transcriptions come from pronunciation lexicons IPAtics maintains, in US and UK English.
How to produce this sound
SoundVoiceless velar stop.
TongueRaise the back of the tongue toward the soft palate (velum). Build full closure at the target place, then release with a controlled burst.
LipsKeep lips neutral unless coarticulation demands otherwise.
JawKeep jaw stable with only enough opening for a crisp release.
VoiceKeep vocal folds apart (no voicing) and let airflow drive the segment.
Minimal pairs
Each pair differs only in /k/, so hearing them side by side isolates the sound.
- coat/ˈkoʊt/goat/ˈɡoʊt/
- cold/ˈkoʊld/gold/ˈɡoʊld/
- back/ˈbæk/bag/ˈbæɡ/
- cap/ˈkæp/gap/ˈɡæp/
Spelling patterns
- c as in cat
- k as in key
- ck as in back
- ch as in school
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