Pronunciation · consonant
The /k/ sound: k as in key
In short
/k/ is a voiceless velar plosive, the consonant you hear in key, school, back. It is voiceless: only air, no vocal-cord vibration. Below: exactly how to position your mouth, audio you can copy, the mistakes learners actually make, and drills to fix them.
How to pronounce /k/
- 1Raise the back of your tongue to the soft palate.
- 2Block the air and release with a puff, no voice.
- 3Remember it hides in many spellings: c, k, ck, ch, qu.
/k/ in words, with audio
Listen, then copy. The slow (turtle) version exaggerates the mouth movement.
- keykiː · sound is initial
- schoolskuːl · sound is medial
- backbæk · sound is final
- quickkwɪk · sound is initial
- economyɪˈkɒnəmi · sound is medial
The mistake almost everyone makes
Weak aspiration so 'coat' sounds like 'goat', or dropping it in clusters like 'asked' /ɑːskt/.
Spellings of /k/
These letter patterns commonly spell /k/: k c ck ch qu. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.
Words that drill /k/
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.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce the /k/ sound?
Raise the back of your tongue to the soft palate. Block the air and release with a puff, no voice. Remember it hides in many spellings: c, k, ck, ch, qu.
What is the most common mistake with /k/?
Weak aspiration so 'coat' sounds like 'goat', or dropping it in clusters like 'asked' /ɑːskt/.
Which spellings make the /k/ sound?
Common spellings include “k”, “c”, “ck”, “ch”, “qu”, as in key /kiː/, school /skuːl/, back /bæk/.
Does /k/ matter for IELTS?
It is a polish-level sound: errors are audible but rarely stop a listener understanding you. IELTS scores intelligibility, not perfection; prioritise the contrasts that change word meaning.
Next step
Hear how close your /k/ is
Record the sound and get instant AI feedback on it, free and with no account. SpeakMetry then maps every sound that needs work across your whole accent.
Check your pronunciation