How to pronounce P

This is a picture of the sound "be". Click to listen.

This is a picture of the sound "pee"

Can you see a difference at the start of the sound?

"pee" starts with a little "explosion" as the lips open and the air in your mouth escapes. Then there is a quiet part before the sound of the vowel "eee" starts.

When we say "be", the vocal cords are already together and ready to vibrate when your lips open, or even a little before:

Can you see the little bit of sound before the explosion?

Here are some animations of people saying "pa" and "ba":

(for animations of other sounds, click here)

Compare with G / K

The difference between "b" and "p" is similar to the difference between "g" and "k" or between "d" and "t"

This is a picture of the sound "guard":

This is a picture of the sound "card":

Can you see a difference? Can you hear the difference?

So how do you say "pee"?

Method 1

Get ready to say "be", but then put a little "hhh" sound in before you start saying "ee".

Don't say buh-hhheee:

Say bhhhhhheeee. With practice, you can say it more quickly and naturally:

Method 2

Get ready to say "be". Notice that your vocal cords are already ready to make a sound.

Relax them . Then say "be". If your vocal cords are relaxed at the start, you should say "pee".

 

GOOD LUCK!