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EnglishSolo β€Ί Listening β€Ί P and B Sounds

/p/ and /b/ Sounds

Master the P and B pronunciation! Learn the difference between voiceless and voiced bilabial plosives.

πŸ’₯ The P and B Sounds

Both sounds are made by bringing your lips together, but B has vocal cord vibration while P does not.
/p/
P Sound (Voiceless)
No vibration
Strong burst of air
Like a popping sound
pan, happen, stop
/b/
B Sound (Voiced)
With vibration
Softer burst of air
Like a gentle pop
buy, cable, job

πŸ‘„ Lip Position & Vibration

Feel the Difference
πŸ‘„
Place your hand on your throat
Say "ppp" - no vibration
Say "bbb" - feel the vibration!
Click the lips to see the movement
⚠️ Common Problems

P replaced with B: If /p/ is replaced with /b/, "pin" sounds like "bin"

B replaced with P: If /b/ is replaced with /p/, "buy" sounds like "pie"

πŸ“„ The Paper Test

Hold a piece of paper in front of your mouth to see the difference!
πŸ“„
Hold paper 6 inches from your mouth
Say "ppp" - paper moves strongly
Say "bbb" - paper barely moves
Click the paper to see the effect

πŸ“š Practice Words

🎯 /p/ Words (Voiceless)
pan
pill
happen
stop
package
paper
🎯 /b/ Words (Voiced)
buy
boy
cable
job
about
bottle

🎧 Sentence Practice

Listen to these sentences and notice the P and B sounds!
Listen and Repeat
  • Pick up the package
  • Push the button
  • Paul is happy about the promotion
  • Pack supplies in case of a power outage
  • Copy the poem with a pencil and paper
B Sound Practice
  • The boy bought a big bottle
  • Bob builds beautiful buildings
  • Cable is probably broken

πŸ“Š Your Progress

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🎧 Listening Challenge

Listen carefully and identify which sound you hear!
Click "Play" to hear a word