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    The /p/ sound: p as in pen

    • Consonant
    • Voiceless
    • Medium priority

    Hear it

    in pen

    Lips
    Pressed together
    Tongue
    Resting; the lips do the work
    Voice
    Off: only air
    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 /p/

    1. 1

      Press both lips together and block the air.

    2. 2

      Release with a small puff of air (aspiration) at the start of words.

    3. 3

      No voice; your throat should not vibrate.

    /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 /p/ is spelled

    • p
    • pp

    The usual mistake

    Skipping the puff of air so 'pen' sounds like 'ben' and 'pay' like 'bay'. Hold a hand in front of your mouth; you should feel a burst on p, not on b.

    Hardest for speakers of

    Words to practise

    Say it and get scored

    Read pen, happy, stop, people, important aloud. Free, no account.

    Check my /p/

    Questions

    How do you pronounce the /p/ sound?
    Press both lips together and block the air. Release with a small puff of air (aspiration) at the start of words. No voice; your throat should not vibrate.
    What is the most common mistake with /p/?
    Skipping the puff of air so 'pen' sounds like 'ben' and 'pay' like 'bay'. Hold a hand in front of your mouth; you should feel a burst on p, not on b.
    Which spellings make the /p/ sound?
    Common spellings include “p”, “pp”, as in pen /pen/, happy /ˈhæpi/, stop /stɒp/.
    Does /p/ 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.