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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.

m
Phonetic System (Merriam-Webster):m

Watch the Sound

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Example Words

Main Example

man
Phonetic: /mæn/

Common Words

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

Minimal Pairs

Listen and compare similar sounds

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

Tongue Twister

Many mumbling mice are making merry music in the moonlight.

Try it yourself

Practice saying this tongue twister

Technical Details

  • CategoryConsonant
  • VoicingVoiced
  • Place of ArticulationBilabial
  • Manner of ArticulationNasal
  • Mouth PositionClose your lips together gently. Lower the soft palate (velum) to allow air to flow out through the nose. Vibrate your vocal cords.