Pronunciation of /b/ and /p/ sounds

1. Consonants:
/p/ vs /b/
Pronunciation Lesson
Speaking & Listening Class
Ms. Quinones

2. Consonant Sounds of
the Day
 /p/ - as in “pie,” “tapped,” and “map”
 /b/ - as in “buy,” “grabbed,” and “tub”

3. Commonly Confused
Sounds /p/ and /b/ are often confused with each other
 /p/ for /b/ = “pear‟ for „bear‟
 /b/ for /p/ = „beach‟ for „peach‟
 /p/ is sometimes confused with /f/
 /p/ for /f/ = „peer‟ for „fear‟
 /f/ for /p/ = „for‟ for „poor‟
 /b/ is sometimes confused with /v/
 /b/ for /v/ = „berry‟ for „very‟
 /v/ for /b/ = „veer‟ for „beer‟

4. Production
 Both sounds are produced with the lips pressed
together to stop air flow and then releasing the air in
a short puff.
 The main difference is voicing.
 /p/= voiceless (no vocal chords vibrating)
 /b/= voiced (vocal chords vibrating)

5. Individual Practice
 /p/
 Piper repeated the peppy parade rap. Practicing paid
off when the promoter appeared.
 /b/
 Ben beat Betsey at Scrabble, but Ruben belittled and
berated Robin after he beat her at Boggle.

6. Now Try Them Together
 Peter paid the tab at Patty‟s Pub for appreciative
patrons.
 Bob bought a tub of pricey peanuts to compete with
Peter‟s proud purchase.
 Both paid a pretty pound before the big party wrapped
up.

7. Additional Practice
1. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
2. Bobby Poppy beeped at Poppy Bobby because
Poppy bumped Bobby.
3. Professor Bear prefers crab to shrimp, but
Professor Pearl prefers beef.
4. Practice precisely before you perform.