In English, the ending sound can help distinguish words with similar pronunciation. However, many learners’ mother tongues don’t include ending sounds, making it difficult for learners to get used to English ending sounds. Therefore, this problem may cause misunderstandings when communicating.
Let’s look at the most fundamental rules for pronouncing ending sounds in English in order to communicate more effectively in this article!
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What is the ending sound?
In English, voiceless consonants (/p/, /t/, /k/, /f/…) and voiced consonants (/b/, /d/, /g/, /v/…) are frequently used as ending sounds.
When we speak, we use our vocal cords to create sounds in our throat, which are known as voiced consonants. You will feel a slight vibration in your neck when you pronounce voiced sounds. (For instance, the sound /l/)
Voiceless consonants, on the other hand, are those in which the throat does not vibrate when speaking. When you read the voiceless consonants, you will notice that air is coming out of your mouth rather than your throat. (For instance, sound /p/)
Common mistakes when pronouncing English ending sounds
Ending sounds in English can help distinguish words with similar pronunciations. However, ending sounds do not exist in all languages. As a result, many learners frequently make the following errors when pronouncing English ending sounds:
Not pronounce the ending sounds
The majority of English words have a final sound. However, when speaking quickly, learners frequently cut off or forget to pronounce the ending sounds during the communication process.
For example, the words /laf/ (life) and /lak/ (like) both begin with the diphthong /a/, the sound /l/.
To distinguish the meanings of these two words, learners should emphasize the ending sound /f/ in “life” and the ending sound /k/ in “like.” Listeners may misunderstand the word lie /la/ if the final consonant is not pronounced (lie).
Not pronounce the ending /s/
This is one of the most common errors in English ending sound pronunciation. In English, the “s” sound is used to express quantity as well as to distinguish the meaning of words. (For plural nouns, add s, es.)
Example: pig /pɪg/- pigs /pɪgz/
Adding the final sound /s/ at random
In contrast to the second error, many learners randomly add ending sounds, particularly the /s/ sound, to the end of words. This is a common error among new learners and those who are unfamiliar with ending sounds, because adding /s/ at the end makes them sound more like Westerners, more like native speakers.
Don’t know how to read the complex of ending consonants
In addition to the ending sounds, there are more complex consonants in English, such as /ks/ in the word “box” or /sts/ in the word “list,” which cause learners to twist their tongues. Most learners “unintentionally” forget to pronounce these complex ending consonants in order not to affect their speaking speed when communicating.
How to pronounce ending sounds in English
In English, failing to pronounce the final consonant can lead to harmful misunderstandings, making other people unable to understand the information you want to convey.
Ending sounds in English are classified into three types: root word ending sounds, /s/, /es/, and /ed/. Here are the most detailed rules for pronouncing English ending sounds.
Ending sounds of root words
The instance of ending sounds of root words is when the ending sounds are concluded in words from the start. Many words in English sound exactly the same, with the exception of the final sound. As a result, to distinguish these words clearly, you must correctly pronounce the final sound.
If you’re unsure how to pronounce the final sounds of these words, look them up in the dictionary and memorize them for the next time.
Example: wife /waɪf/ – wine /wain/
Both of these words begin with the sound /w/ and end with the double sound /ai/. The only distinction is in the final two sounds, /f/ and /n/.
If you mix up the last sound of these two words, you may end up pronouncing them as “why” /wa/.
“I like your wine.”
“I like your wife.”
How to pronounce /s/ & /es/ in English
The /s/ and /es/ sounds are the ending sounds that are commonly mispronounced when speaking English. Because many people believe that the pronunciation with more “s” sounds more “genuine.” Before considering how to pronounce /s/ and /es/ correctly, you need to learn how to pronounce it correctly.
The ending sound /s/ & /es/ in English is pronounced according to the rules below:
Pronounced /s/
In words that end in voiceless consonants like -p, -t, -k, -f, -th, “s” will be pronounced /s/.
For example:
- P: cups /kʌps/; maps /mæps/
- T: hats /hæts/, students /ˈstjuːdənts/
- K: books /bʊks/, drinks /drɪŋks/
- F: cliffs /klɪfs/, laughs /lɑːfs/
- TH: myths /mɪθs/, months /mʌnθs/
Pronounced /z/
If the words end in a vowel or a voiced consonant, adding an “s” will be pronounced /z/.
For example:
- Vowels: sees /siːz/, describes /dɪsˈkraɪbz/
- D: cards /kɑːdz/, words /wɜːdz /
- G: bags /bægz/, begs /bɛgz/
- L: deals /diːlz/, hills /hɪlz/
- M: plums /plʌmz/, dreams /driːmz/
- N: fans /fænz/, pens /pɛnz/
- NG: kings /kɪŋz/, sings /sɪŋz/
- R: wears /weəz/, cars /kɑːz/
- V: gloves /glʌvz/, shelves /ʃɛlvz/
- Y: plays /pleɪz/, boys /bɔɪz.
- THE: clothes /kləʊðz/, breathes /briːðz/
Pronounced /ɪz/ (or /əz/)
In English, words that end in the following sounds are pronounced /ɪz/ or /əz/.
- C: races /ˈreɪsɪz/
- S: buses /ˈbʌsɪz/, rises /ˈraɪzɪz/
- X: fixes /ˈfɪksɪz/, boxes /ˈbɒksɪz/
- Z: prizes /ˈpraɪzɪz/, quizzes /ˈkwɪzɪz/
- SS: kisses /ˈkɪsɪz/, misses /ˈmɪsɪz/
- CH: sandwiches /ˈsænwɪʤɪz/, witches /ˈwɪʧɪz/
- SH: dishes /ˈdɪʃɪz/, wishes /ˈwɪʃɪz/
- GE: garages /ˈgærɑːʒɪz/, changes /ˈʧeɪnʤɪz/
How to pronounce /ed/ in English
In English, the ending sound /ed/, like the sounds /s/ and /es/, is pronounced differently in each case. To correctly pronounce this ending sound, remember the following rules:
Pronounced /t/
When a verb ends in /s/, /f/, /p/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/, /k/, the ending sound “ed” is pronounced /t/.
For example:
- Washed /wɒʃt/
- Hoped /həʊpt/
- Coughed /kɒft/
- Fixed /fɪkst/
- Asked /ɑːskt/
- Catched /kæʧt/
Pronounced /id/
When the pronunciation of verbs ends in /t/ or /d/, the ed ending is pronounced /id/.
For example:
- Wanted /ˈwɒntɪd/
- Needed /ˈniːdɪd/
- Added /ˈædɪd
Pronounced /d/
Beside the above rules, in the remaining cases in English, the ed sound will be pronounced /d/
For example:
- Cried /kraɪd/: Cry
- Lived /lɪvd/
- Allowed /əˈlaʊd/,…
- Played /pleɪd/: Played
*Note: When used as adjectives, the following verbs ending in “ed” will be pronounced /d/, regardless of the sound “ed” follows: aged, blessed, crooked, dogged, learned, naked, ragged, wicked, wretched.
The rules for pronouncing the ending sounds in English that you must follow are listed above. When practicing pronunciation, the ending sound is only a minor component, but it plays an important role in distinguishing words in English. As a result, you should remember the rules and spend time practicing the pronunciation of ending sounds to avoid communication misunderstandings.
If you’re looking for a tool to practice native English pronunciation, consider GOGA – an English learning app including a series of pronunciation instruction videos made by native speakers. These videos offer a pronunciation guide of 40 syllables according to American English standards.
When practicing pronunciation with GOGA, you will not only receive detailed instructions on how to place your lips and bend your tongue when creating syllables in English, but you will also be able to practice right away according to the level, from easy to difficult, and from pronouncing words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. During pronunciation practice with GOGA, AI technology will always be present to assist you in scoring the correct pronunciation for each phoneme and suggesting ways to improve pronunciation.
GOGA is now available on both iOS and Android platforms. Download the free app via the 2 links below to let GOGA help you pronounce English words correcly!
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