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    Pronunciation · consonant

    The /b/ sound: b as in bed

    In short

    /b/ is a voiced bilabial plosive, the consonant you hear in bed, about, job. It is voiced: your vocal cords vibrate while you make it. Below: exactly how to position your mouth, audio you can copy, the mistakes learners actually make, and drills to fix them.

    How to pronounce /b/

    1. 1Press both lips together and block the air.
    2. 2Switch your voice on as you release; feel your throat vibrate.
    3. 3Keep it voiced at the ends of words too: job, not 'jop'.

    /b/ in words, with audio

    Listen, then copy. The slow (turtle) version exaggerates the mouth movement.

    • bedbed · sound is initial
    • aboutəˈbaʊt · sound is medial
    • jobdʒɒb · sound is final
    • problemˈprɒbləm · sound is medial
    • bigbɪɡ · sound is initial

    The mistake almost everyone makes

    Devoicing it at the end of words so 'cab' sounds like 'cap', or mixing it with /p/ or /v/. Touch your throat: b must buzz.

    Spellings of /b/

    These letter patterns commonly spell /b/: b bb. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.

    Don't confuse it with…

    Minimal pairs isolate the exact contrast, the fastest way to train both your ear and your mouth.

    Words that drill /b/

    Each has a full breakdown, audio in both accents and a recording drill. Practising a sound inside a real word transfers better than practising it alone.

    hyperbolehy-PUR-buh-leecomfortableKUMF-tuh-bulvegetableVEJ-tuh-bulbusinessBIZ-nuslaboratoryluh-BO-ruh-treeobjectOB-jiktsubjectSUB-jiktFebruaryFEB-roo-uh-ree

    Browse the whole word bank

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    Frequently asked questions

    How do you pronounce the /b/ sound?
    Press both lips together and block the air. Switch your voice on as you release; feel your throat vibrate. Keep it voiced at the ends of words too: job, not 'jop'.
    What is the most common mistake with /b/?
    Devoicing it at the end of words so 'cab' sounds like 'cap', or mixing it with /p/ or /v/. Touch your throat: b must buzz.
    Which spellings make the /b/ sound?
    Common spellings include “b”, “bb”, as in bed /bed/, about /əˈbaʊt/, job /dʒɒb/.
    Does /b/ matter for IELTS?
    It matters moderately. Errors are noticeable but only sometimes affect understanding. Fix the high-priority vowel contrasts and final consonants first, then polish this one.

    Next step

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