Lessons Unit 3, lesson 12

g + vowels

The g beginning opening into every vowel it starts words with. Get the mouth ready for g, release straight into the vowel — no gap, no extra sound between them.

What do the marks mean?

ˈriːdread Stressed part — say it louder & longer.

təto Weak word — say it quickly & softly.

∅e Silent letter — don’t pronounce it.

θth Underline — these letters spell one sound.

wa·ter Dot · — a syllable break.

go‿on Linked — blend the words together.

?↗︎↘︎ Arrows — voice rises ↗︎ or falls ↘︎.

ˈsɛvən7 Number — how to say it aloud.

read² ² mark — has a second pronunciation.

guess? ? mark — a best guess; double-check it.

Want the full walkthrough? Read the map explains every mark, with practice.

gthe g in go

Made at the back of the mouth, like k but with your voice on. Put a hand on your throat: g buzzes, k doesn't.

g + every vowel

One row per combination. Tap any word to hear it — every sheet comes straight from the tool.

g æ	gang	gap
g ɪ	give	given	gift
g ɛ	get	guess	guest
g ʌ	gun	gulf	gut
g ʊ	good	goods
g ɑ	got	god	guard
g iː	geek	geese
g uː	goose	goofy
g ɔː	gore	gong	gorge
g eɪ	game	gave	gain
g aɪ	guy	guide	guise
g oʊ	go	going	goes

Voiced partner of k

G is built exactly like k — back of the tongue against the roof of the mouth — but with the voice switched on from the very start. Put a hand on your throat for go, get, and give and feel the buzz begin right as the tongue releases, not after.

Front and back g

Just like k, the tongue's contact point shifts with the vowel: forward and high for geek and geese, further back for goose and goofy. Compare guy, guide, and guise, where the spelling adds a silent u but the sound is still a plain g gliding into aɪ.

Read down a column, then say the same words again with a hand on your throat, checking that the voicing never drops out at the start, even on the shorter words like gap and gun.