LISTEN
listen_to_-k-.mp3
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/k/.../k/.../k/.../k/...

kiss...cat...luck...broken

WHAT IS IT?
The sound /k/ is a voiceless, velar, stop consonant. ​​
  • Touch your soft palate (the soft part of the roof of your mouth) with the back of your tongue.
  • Move your tongue sharply downward and let air out in a short burst.
  • Your vocal cords should not vibrate.

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

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 

Grammar Tip:
The sound /k/ is used in the common suffix "-ic". This suffix appears in adjectives and usually means "of" or "relating to".
grammar_k.mp3
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  • 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.)
grammar_k2.mp3
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  • comical
  • medical
  • musical
  • typical

COMPARE
Compare /k/ with /g/:
compare_k-g_1.mp3
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/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.
compare_k-g_words.mp3
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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​

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

​Now, compare /k/ and /h/:
compare_k-h_1.mp3
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/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.
compare_k-h_words.mp3
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​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 recognizing words with /k/ and /h/ by taking the quiz below.

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-k-.mp3
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1. kind
2. can
3. cry
4. clean
5. skate
6. screen
7. quote
8. q​uick
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.
sentences_with_-k-.mp3
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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:

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:
These are all common American breakfast foods. What would you like to order for breakfast?
FOOD
  • Breakfast sandwich
  • Pancakes
  • Bacon and eggs
  • Steak and eggs
  • Bagel and cream cheese
  • Biscuits and gravy
  • Eggs Benedict
  • Cornmeal mush
  • Croissants
​DRINKS
  • Hot chocolate
  • Black coffee
  • Coffee with cream
  • Cranberry juice
  • Milk
FOOD
  • Breakfast sandwich
  • Pancakes
  • Bacon and eggs
  • Steak and eggs
  • Bagel and cream cheese
  • Biscuits and gravy
  • Eggs Benedict
  • Cornmeal mush
  • Croissantd

​​DRINKS
  • Hot chocolate
  • Black coffee
  • Coffee with cream
  • Cranberry juice
  • Milk
(If you’re not sure what some of these are, see  
​https://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/food/breakfast/breakfast-food-vocabulary.html)
 
Record:
Imagine you are ordering breakfast at an American restaurant for you and a friend. In your recording, order 2 foods and 2 drinks.
 
​© 2018, Christine Wingate