Phonemes

How to Pronounce the /p/ Sound

On this page, you will explore words that begin, contain, or end with the /p/ sound. These words are useful in everyday English and are perfect for building your vocabulary and pronunciation skills. Perfect for both beginner and advanced English learners, mastering the /p/ sound improves pronunciation and boosts speaking confidence.

The Consonant Sound /p/

The consonant sound /p/ is one of the most important and common sounds in English. It is a voiceless sound made by pressing your lips together and then releasing a small burst of air — like when you say pen or pop. Learning how to pronounce and recognize /p/ helps English learners improve their speaking, listening, reading, and spelling.

Consonant p scaledPin

Sound Type

  • /p/ is a voiceless plosive (stop) sound.

  • Your vocal cords do not vibrate when you make this sound.

  • It is produced by blocking the airflow with both lips, then releasing it suddenly.

How to Pronounce /p/

  1. Close your lips tightly.

  2. Build up air behind them.

  3. Release the air with a short puff.

  4. Do not use your voice — just air.

🧠 Tip: Put your hand in front of your mouth. You should feel a burst of air when you say /p/.

pPin

Below is the pronunciation of the /p/ sound along with an example: pat.

Words with the Consonant Sound /p/

Beginning Sound /p/

Word IPA
pen /pen/
pig /pɪɡ/
pot /pɒt/
pan /pæn/
pet /pet/
pie /paɪ/
park /pɑːk/
pill /pɪl/
pink /pɪŋk/
pick /pɪk/
push /pʊʃ/
pull /pʊl/
play /pleɪ/
plane /pleɪn/
plant /plɑːnt/
print /prɪnt/
please /pliːz/
place /pleɪs/
party /ˈpɑːti/
pencil /ˈpensl/
panda /ˈpændə/
paper /ˈpeɪpər/
puppy /ˈpʌpi/
pizza /ˈpiːtsə/
pack /pæk/
pad /pæd/
page /peɪdʒ/
paint /peɪnt/
pair /peə(r)/
palace /ˈpælɪs/
parent /ˈpeərənt/
parrot /ˈpærət/
party /ˈpɑːti/
pass /pɑːs/
path /pɑːθ/
pause /pɔːz/
peace /piːs/
peach /piːtʃ/
pearl /pɜːl/
peel /piːl/
penalty /ˈpenəlti/
perfect /ˈpɜːfɪkt/
perform /pəˈfɔːm/
person /ˈpɜːsən/
photo /ˈfəʊtəʊ/
phone /fəʊn/
plastic /ˈplæstɪk/
planet /ˈplænɪt/
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/
passenger /ˈpæsɪndʒər/
pattern /ˈpætən/
payment /ˈpeɪmənt/
pencil /ˈpensl/
percent /pəˈsent/
perfume /ˈpɜːfjuːm/
period /ˈpɪəriəd/
permit /ˈpɜːmɪt/
picture /ˈpɪktʃə(r)/
pillow /ˈpɪləʊ/
pilot /ˈpaɪlət/
pin /pɪn/
pipe /paɪp/
pocket /ˈpɒkɪt/
poem /ˈpəʊɪm/
poet /ˈpəʊɪt/
point /pɔɪnt/
police /pəˈliːs/
policy /ˈpɒləsi/
pollution /pəˈluːʃn/
pool /puːl/
poor /pɔː(r)/
position /pəˈzɪʃn/
positive /ˈpɒzətɪv/
poster /ˈpəʊstə(r)/
potato /pəˈteɪtəʊ/
power /ˈpaʊə(r)/
present /ˈpreznt/
pretty /ˈprɪti/
problem /ˈprɒbləm/
product /ˈprɒdʌkt/
protect /prəˈtekt/
purple /ˈpɜːpl/

Middle Sound /p/

Ending Sound /p/

Word IPA
cap /kæp/
cup /kʌp/
map /mæp/
nap /næp/
tap /tæp/
gap /ɡæp/
lap /læp/
rap /ræp/
sap /sæp/
clap /klæp/
trap /træp/
step /step/
stop /stɒp/
shop /ʃɒp/
top /tɒp/
hop /hɒp/
drop /drɒp/
flip /flɪp/
trip /trɪp/
grip /ɡrɪp/
zip /zɪp/
whip /wɪp/
slip /slɪp/
pip /pɪp/
blip /blɪp/
snip /snɪp/
chip /tʃɪp/
quip /kwɪp/
yip /jɪp/
tip /tɪp/
dip /dɪp/
rip /rɪp/
skip /skɪp/
beep /biːp/
peep /piːp/
deep /diːp/
keep /kiːp/
sleep /sliːp/
creep /kriːp/
sweep /swiːp/
cheap /tʃiːp/
heap /hiːp/
leap /liːp/
reap /riːp/
sheep /ʃiːp/
loop /luːp/
hoop /huːp/
coop /kuːp/
soup /suːp/
troop /truːp/
group /ɡruːp/
slope /sləʊp/
mope /məʊp/
rope /rəʊp/
nope /nəʊp/
pope /pəʊp/
envelope /ˈenvələʊp/
develop /dɪˈveləp/
ketchup /ˈketʃʌp/
lookup /ˈlʊkʌp/
makeup /ˈmeɪkʌp/
pickup /ˈpɪkʌp/
startup /ˈstɑːtʌp/
breakup /ˈbreɪkʌp/
closeup /ˈkləʊsʌp/
buildup /ˈbɪldʌp/
windup /ˈwaɪndʌp/
grownup /ˈɡrəʊnʌp/
checkup /ˈtʃekʌp/
mashup /ˈmæʃʌp/
washup /ˈwɒʃʌp/
matchup /ˈmætʃʌp/
catchup /ˈkætʃʌp/
passup /ˈpɑːsʌp/
speedup /ˈspiːdʌp/
fixup /ˈfɪksʌp/
wrapup /ˈræpʌp/
tossup /ˈtɒsʌp/

Examples Sentences for Practicing Consonant Sound /p/

  1. Peter plays the piano perfectly.

  2. She bought a pink pencil at the store.

  3. The puppy is jumping on the pillow.

  4. Please pass the pepper, not the salt.

  5. We had a picnic in the park.

  6. I am very happy today.

  7. The apple pie smells delicious.

  8. He is copying the notes from the board.

  9. That open door leads to the garden.

  10. They found a temple in the jungle.

  11. The top of the mountain is snowy.

  12. Can you help me wrap this gift?

  13. She wore a red cap to the party.

  14. I need to check the map before we go.

  15. Peter packed a purple pencil, a paper, and a pen.

  16. The parrot picked peanuts from the plate.

  17. Please put the puppy in the pet pen.

  18. We had pumpkin pie at the picnic.

  19. Paul popped the red balloon at the party.

  20. The polite parrot repeated people’s phrases perfectly.

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