The sound /k/ voiceless, velar, stop consonant

 

Spelling:

 

  • "k" /"ke"- king, lake
  • "c" - can, economic
  • "ch"/"che" - character, ache
  • "ck" - luck, package
  • "cc" - account, occasion
  • "qu" (usually pronounced /kw/) / "que"- quality, technique
 
 
LISTEN
 
 
 
/k/.../k/.../k/.../k/...

kiss...cat...luck...broken
 
 

The sound /k/ can be in these consonant clusters:
 
  • Beginning of a Syllable
    •  
/kr/ ("kr," "cr," "chr") - krill, cry, Christmas
/kl/ ("kl," "cl") - klutz, clean
/sk/ ("sk," "sc") - skate, scare
/skr/ ("scr") - scream
/kw/ ("qu") - queen, choir
/skw/ ("squ") - square
 
 
 
  • End of a Syllable
 
/kt/ ("ked" / "ched" / "cked") - baked, ached, locked
/ks/ ("cs" / "ches" / "ques" / "cks") - specifics, aches, techniques, backs
/sk/ ("sk") - task
/sks/ ("sks") - risks
/skt/ ("sked") - asked
/rk/ - ("rk" / "rc") - dark, arc
/rks/ ("rk" / "rcs") - forks, arcs
/rkt/ ("rked") - worked
/lk/("lk") - milk
/lks/ ("lks")- hulks
/lkt/ ("lked") - balked
/ŋk/ ("nk" / "nc") - link, zinc
/ŋks/ ("nks" / "ncs") - links, syncs
/ŋkt/ ("nked") - thanked
 
 

Grammar Tip:

The sound /k/ is used in the common suffix "-ic". This suffix appears in adjectives and usually means "of" or "relating to".
 
 
 
  • terrific
  • classic
  • dramatic
  • athletic
 
 
 
The sound /k/ is also used in the suffix "-ical," which also appears in adjectives and usually has the same meaning as "-ic." However, "-ic" and "-ical" may mark words with different meaning. (For example, "economic" and "economical" have different meanings, and "comic" and "comical" also have different meanings.)
 
 
 
  • comical
  • medical
  • musical
  • typical
 
 
 
COMPARE
 
Compare /k/ with /g/:
 
 
 
/k/.../g/.../k/.../g/.../k/.../g/...

These are both velar stop consonants. However, /k/ is a voiceless consonant while /g/ is a voiced consonant. When you pronounce /k/, your vocal cords should not vibrate.
 
 

You can hear the difference between /k/ and /g/ in these words.
 
1. A. could, B. good
2. A. class, B. glass
3. A. back, B. bag
4. A. fix, B. figs
5. A. locker, B. logger
6. A. dankly, B. dangly
 
 

Now, compare /k/ and /h/:
 
 
 
/k/.../h/.../k/.../h/.../k/.../h/...

These are both voiceless consonants pronounced in the back of the mouth. However, /k/ is a velar stop and /h/ is a glottal fricative. The sound /k/ is pronounced with the back of your tongue, while /h/ is pronounced with the glottis, which is behind your tongue.
 
 

You can hear the difference between /k/ and /h/ in these words.
 
1. A. call, B. hall
2. A. kit, B. hit
3. A. come, B. hum
4. A. cook, B. hook
5. A. keep, B. heap
6. A. racecourse, B. racehorse
 
 
 
PRACTICE
 
Listen and repeat these words:
 
 
 
 
1. kind
2. can
3. cry
4. clean
5. skate
6. screen
7. quote
8. quick
9. squeeze
10. luck
11. bark
12. milk
13. thanks
14. fix
15. baker
16. falcon
17. boxes
18. tickling
19. background
20. calculus

Now practice /k/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
 
1. thank - kind - encouragement
Thank you for your kind encouragement.
2. can - park - covered
We can park in a covered garage.
3. exchange ("x" = /ks/) - cards - Christmas
They exchange cards and gifts for Christmas.
4. clean- kitchen - cook 
Please clean the kitchen after you cook.
5. stack - boxes ("x" = /ks/) - corner
Stack the boxes in the corner.
6. calculus - textbook ("x" = /ks/) - class
I need a calculus textbook for my class.
 
 

To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
 

Consonants /d/ and /g/

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