LISTEN
listen_to_-ng-.mp3
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/ŋ/.../ŋ/.../ŋ/.../ŋ/...

hang...long...strongly...things

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation:
The sound /ŋ/ is a velar, nasal consonant. 
  • Touch your soft palate (the soft part of the roof of your mouth) with the back of your tongue.
  • Let air flow out of your nose.
  • Your vocal cords should vibrate.

The sound /ŋ/ can appear in these consonant clusters:​​
  • Beginning of a Syllable
  • End of a Syllable
<
>
(none)
ng_final_clusters.mp3
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/ŋk/ ("nk" /  "nc") - pink, function
/ŋks/ ("nks" / "nx") - sinks, lynx ​
/ŋkt/ ("nked") - thanked​​
​/ŋz/ ("ngs") - things
/ŋθ/ ("ngth") - length
/ŋd/ ("nged") - hanged

Spelling:
  • "ng" - ring
  • "n" (before /k/ or /g/)  - pink, finger

Grammar Tip:
The sound /ŋ/ is part of the suffix "-ing." This suffix is used to mark several categories of words in English.
  • Progressive verbs: I was sleeping. You are cooking.
  • Gerunds: Sleeping is good. Writing is hard.
  • Present participial adjectives: The movie was exciting. This class is boring​. 

COMPARE
Compare /ŋ/ with /g/:
compare_ng-g_1.mp3
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/ŋ/.../g/.../ŋ/.../g/.../ŋ/.../g/...

These are both voiced velar consonants. However, /g/ is a stop while /ŋ/ is a nasal. When you pronounce /ŋ/, air should flow out of your nose.

You can hear the difference between /ŋ/ and /g/ in these words.
compare_ng-g_words2.mp3
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3. A. tang, B. tag
2. A. hung, B. hug
1. A. bang, B. bag
6. A. single, B. seagull
4. A. rings, B. rigs
​5. A. longing, B. logging

Practice recognizing words with /ŋ/ and /g/ by taking the quiz below.

Now, compare /ŋ/ and /n/:​
compare_ng-n_1.mp3
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/ŋ/.../n/.../ŋ/.../n/.../ŋ/.../n/...

These are both nasal consonants. However, /n/ is an alveolar nasal and /ŋ/ is a velar nasal. When you pronounce /ŋ/, the back of your tongue should touch the back of your mouth and the tip of your tongue should be low in your mouth..
​​
You can hear the difference between /ŋ/ and // in these words.
compare_ng-n_words2.mp3
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1. A. long, B. lawn
3. A. things, B. thins
2. A. hanged, B. hand
​6. A. forgiving, B. forgiven​
4. A. singer, B. sinner
5. A. winging, B. winning​
Practice recognizing words with /ŋ/ and /n/ by taking the quiz below.

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-ng-.mp3
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1. long
2. sing
3. hang
4. young​
5. things
6. drink
7. thanks
8. angry
9. single
10. leng​th
11. monkey
12. blanket
13. uncle
14. searching
15. wanting
16. conquest
17. language
18. meaningful
19. ingredient
20. belongi​ng 

Now, practice /ŋ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
sentences_with_-ng-.mp3
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1. young - engaged - ring 
In America, a young engaged woman wears a ring..
2. uncle - helping - hang 
My uncle is helping me hang curtains.
3. bring - missing - ingredient
Can you bring the missing ingredient?
4. drink - something - evening
I like to drink something hot in the evening.
5. king - strength - ruling 
A king needs strength for ruling well.
6. thinking - things - long​
​I've been thinking about these things for a long time.

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

USE IT!
​​Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.

Prepare:
What kinds of little things make you angry? Choose from the list below.
  • Being hungry for too long
  • Feeling powerless
  • Thinking about injustice
  • Someone singing aloud in public
  • Hearing someone say your name the wrong way
  • Someone telling you about the song stuck in their head
  • Being blamed for something you didn't do
  • Crying babies
  • Someone taking the place that you wanted in a parking lot
  • Arguing with your siblings (brothers and sisters)
  • Failing
  • Seeing someone be mean to another person

Record:
In your recording, describe 3 things that make you angry and explain why they make you angry.

©2018-2021, Christine Wingate