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    The /b/ sound: b as in bed

    • Consonant
    • Voiced
    • Medium priority

    Hear it

    in bed

    Lips
    Pressed together
    Tongue
    Resting; the lips do the work
    Voice
    On: feel your throat buzz
    Air
    Stopped, then released in a small burst

    The sound on its own: recording by Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. Credits

    How to make /b/

    1. 1

      Press both lips together and block the air.

    2. 2

      Switch your voice on as you release; feel your throat vibrate.

    3. 3

      Keep it voiced at the ends of words too: job, not 'jop'.

    /p/ vs /b/: pack vs back

    Every pair

    Hold a tissue in front of your lips: it should jump on 'pack' and stay still on 'back'. At word ends, keep /b/ gently voiced; 'cab' must not become 'cap'.

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    Which word do you hear?

    How /b/ is spelled

    • b
    • bb

    The usual mistake

    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.

    Words to practise

    Say it and get scored

    Read bed, about, job, problem, big aloud. Free, no account.

    Check my /b/

    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.