For Students
American English Pronunciation
Lesson 22
Pronounce the sound in the words bet, but, bit, beach
In this lesson you will watch a video, and learn the following: how to spell this sound, the sound type, proper mouth position. You will practice pronouncing this sound and take a test.
Watch the video
Watch the following video and learn how to pronounce this sound.
How to spell this sound
This sound can be spelled in any of the following ways.
b bet, bass, bat, but, bit, bunch, boring, bony, beach, bill, best, beak, back
 

Note: the red letters all have the same sound

Sound type
This is a VOICED sound which means Your Vocal Cords DO vibrate when making this sound.
You CAN LISTEN to your Vocal Cords vibrating if you cover your ears with your hands.

Try covering your ears with your hands as Akiko is doing in the picture.

Now make the sound of this lesson. Can you listen to your vocal cords vibrating?
VERY GOOD
You CAN FEEL your Vocal Cords vibrating if you place your hands on your neck.

Try placing your hands on your neck as Akiko is doing in the picture.

Now make the sound of this lesson. Can you feel your vocal cords vibrating?
VERY GOOD
The following diagram shows the most important parts of your head and mouth used for pronouncing the sounds of English. It also shows the location of your Vocal Cords.
Mouth, lips, and tongue position
The following descriptions explain the proper mouth, lips, and tongue position when you make this sound.
Mouth

Your mouth releases air which is then quickly stopped.
Lips

Your lips are together at the beginning.
Tongue

The front part of your tongue should be in the center part of your mouth.
Pronunciation practice video
Watch the following video and practice pronouncing this sound.
Pronunciation practice words
Look at your mouth in a mirror and practice pronouncing the following words. Make sure your mouth, lips, and tongue are in their proper positions.
bet bass bat but
bit bunch boring back
beach bill best beak
 

Note: the red letters all have the same sound (watch the video above)

Pronunciation tongue twisters test
Try saying the following tongue twisters as quickly as possible.
  • Betty Botter bought some butter. / "But," she said, "this butter's bitter! / If I put it in my batter, / It will make my batter bitter!" / So she bought a bit of butter / Better than her bitter butter, / And she put it in her batter, / And her batter was not bitter. / So 'twas better Betty Botter / Bought a bit of better butter.

  • Peggy Babcock.

  • The black bloke's back brake block broke.

  • Toy boat [repeated]

  • Rubber buggy bumpers [repeated]

  • Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat.

  • A bitter biting bittern Bit a better brother bittern, And the bitter better bittern Bit the bitter biter back. And the bitter bittern, bitten, By the better bitten bittern, Said: "I'm a bitter biter bit, alack!"

  • I cannot bear to see a bear Bear down upon a hare. When bare of hair he strips the hare, Right there I cry, "Forbear!"

  • A box of biscuits, a batch of mixed biscuits.

  • A big black bug bit a big black bear, made the big black bear bleed blood.

  • The boot black bought the black boot back.

  • Black bug's blood.

  • Betty better butter Brad's bread.

  • Brad's big black bath brush broke.

  • Betty and Bob brought back blue balloons from the big bazaar.

  • A bloke's back bike brake block broke.

  • Good blood, bad blood.

  • Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons -- balancing them badly.

  • The blue bluebird blinks.

  • Pretty Kitty Creighton had a cotton batten cat. The cotton batten cat was bitten by a rat. The kitten that was bitten had a button for an eye, and biting off the button made the cotton batten fly.

  • Ruby Rugby's brother bought and brought her back some rubber baby-buggy bumpers.

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