1
Back to all sounds
IPA
m

Start practicing!

Consonant

M Sound

The M sound is a voiced bilabial nasal consonant. Airflow is blocked by closing the lips but escapes through the nose while the vocal cords vibrate.

Voicing
Voiced
Place of Articulation
Bilabial
Manner of Articulation
Nasal
Mouth Position

Close your lips together gently. Lower the soft palate (velum) to allow air to flow out through the nose. Vibrate your vocal cords.

How to Make This Sound

Articulation video not available

Watch the Sound

Click the video to watch in fullscreen mode

Example Words

manMain Example
/mæn/
him
/hɪm/
make
/meɪk/
home
/hoʊm/
time
/taɪm/
summer
/ˈsʌmər/
from
/frʌm/ or /frəm/
more
/mɔr/
name
/neɪm/
important
/ɪmˈpɔrtənt/

Pronunciation Practice

11 words

Speak the words aloud to get instant feedback on your pronunciation

Quick Practice

3-5 essential words

Full Practice

All 11 words

Minimal Pairs

Listen and compare similar sounds

m
man
/mæn/
Compare with
V
van
/væn/
m
met
/mɛt/
Compare with
N
net
/nɛt/
m
mop
/mɑp/
Compare with
P
pop
/pɑp/
m
mom
/mɑm/
Compare with
B
bomb
/bɑm/
m
mine
/maɪn/
Compare with
N
nine
/naɪn/
m
seem
/sim/
Compare with
S
seen
/sin/

Tongue Twister

Love these free pronunciation tools?

❤️ Donate

Practice and related guides

Use the hub pages below to reinforce this sound with drills and deeper explanations.

Sound Hub

Study the English consonant system

Compare voicing, place of articulation, and the trickiest consonant contrasts.

Practice

Practice English consonants

Drill consonant contrast, articulation, and common listening confusions.

Pronunciation

Semi-Vowels W and Y: The Glide Sounds That Bridge Vowels and Consonants

Discover why W and Y are unique sounds in English. These glide sounds act like consonants but are produced like vowels, making them essential for clear pronunciation.

Pronunciation

Double Consonants and Short Vowels: The Spelling Pattern That Unlocks English Pronunciation

Discover how double consonant letters signal short vowel sounds in English. Learn why 'dinner' and 'diner' sound completely different, and master this essential rule to pronounce hundreds of words correctly.