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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.

  • bed/bed/ · sound is initial
  • about/əˈbaʊt/ · sound is medial
  • job/dʒɒb/ · sound is final
  • problem/ˈprɒbləm/ · sound is medial
  • big/bɪɡ/ · 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.

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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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