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.
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/
- Close your lips tightly.
- Build up air behind them.
- Release the air with a short puff.
- 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/.
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/ |
| /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/ |
| /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/
| Word | IPA |
| apple | /ˈæpəl/ |
| happy | /ˈhæpi/ |
| open | /ˈəʊpən/ |
| puppet | /ˈpʌpɪt/ |
| zipper | /ˈzɪpər/ |
| paper | /ˈpeɪpər/ |
| pepper | /ˈpepər/ |
| puppy | /ˈpʌpi/ |
| upper | /ˈʌpər/ |
| happen | /ˈhæpən/ |
| copper | /ˈkɒpər/ |
| laptop | /ˈlæptɒp/ |
| tapping | /ˈtæpɪŋ/ |
| caper | /ˈkeɪpər/ |
| deeper | /ˈdiːpər/ |
| keeper | /ˈkiːpər/ |
| mapper | /ˈmæpər/ |
| zipper | /ˈzɪpər/ |
| topper | /ˈtɒpər/ |
| slipper | /ˈslɪpər/ |
| shopper | /ˈʃɒpər/ |
| hopper | /ˈhɒpər/ |
| supper | /ˈsʌpər/ |
| napper | /ˈnæpər/ |
| ripper | /ˈrɪpər/ |
| cheaper | /ˈtʃiːpər/ |
| jumper | /ˈdʒʌmpər/ |
| empire | /ˈempaɪər/ |
| employ | /ɪmˈplɔɪ/ |
| appear | /əˈpɪər/ |
| appeal | /əˈpiːl/ |
| oppose | /əˈpəʊz/ |
| approve | /əˈpruːv/ |
| repair | /rɪˈpeə(r)/ |
| repeat | /rɪˈpiːt/ |
| replace | /rɪˈpleɪs/ |
| reopen | /ˌriːˈəʊpən/ |
| deposit | /dɪˈpɒzɪt/ |
| suppose | /səˈpəʊz/ |
| compete | /kəmˈpiːt/ |
| compare | /kəmˈpeə(r)/ |
| compose | /kəmˈpəʊz/ |
| campus | /ˈkæmpəs/ |
| temple | /ˈtempl/ |
| ample | /ˈæmpl/ |
| sample | /ˈsɑːmpl/ |
| simple | /ˈsɪmpl/ |
| empire | /ˈempaɪər/ |
| hamper | /ˈhæmpər/ |
| bumper | /ˈbʌmpər/ |
| caper | /ˈkeɪpər/ |
| diaper | /ˈdaɪəpər/ |
| reaper | /ˈriːpər/ |
| leaping | /ˈliːpɪŋ/ |
| shaping | /ˈʃeɪpɪŋ/ |
| hoping | /ˈhəʊpɪŋ/ |
| popup | /ˈpɒpʌp/ |
| upkeep | /ˈʌpkiːp/ |
| upturn | /ˈʌptɜːn/ |
| updating | /ʌpˈdeɪtɪŋ/ |
| upbeat | /ˈʌpbiːt/ |
| upload | /ˈʌpləʊd/ |
| upheaval | /ʌpˈhiːvəl/ |
| uphold | /ʌpˈhəʊld/ |
| oppose | /əˈpəʊz/ |
| appear | /əˈpɪə(r)/ |
| appeal | /əˈpiːl/ |
| append | /əˈpend/ |
| approve | /əˈpruːv/ |
| appoint | /əˈpɔɪnt/ |
| apply | /əˈplaɪ/ |
| appliance | /əˈplaɪəns/ |
| compile | /kəmˈpaɪl/ |
| compete | /kəmˈpiːt/ |
| compute | /kəmˈpjuːt/ |
| campaign | /kæmˈpeɪn/ |
| compare | /kəmˈpeə(r)/ |
| comply | /kəmˈplaɪ/ |
| template | /ˈtemplət/ |
| amplify | /ˈæmplɪfaɪ/ |
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/ |
| matchup | /ˈmætʃʌp/ |
| catchup | /ˈkætʃʌp/ |
| speedup | /ˈspiːdʌp/ |
| fixup | /ˈfɪksʌp/ |
| wrapup | /ˈræpʌp/ |
| tossup | /ˈtɒsʌp/ |
Example Sentences for Practicing Consonant Sound /p/
- Peter plays the piano perfectly.
- She bought a pink pencil at the store.
- The puppy is jumping on the pillow.
- Please pass the pepper, not the salt.
- We had a picnic in the park.
- I am very happy today.
- The apple pie smells delicious.
- He is copying the notes from the board.
- That open door leads to the garden.
- They found a temple in the jungle.
- The top of the mountain is snowy.
- Can you help me wrap this gift?
- She wore a red cap to the party.
- I need to check the map before we go.
- Peter packed a purple pencil, a paper, and a pen.
- The parrot picked peanuts from the plate.
- Please put the puppy in the pet pen.
- We had pumpkin pie at the picnic.
- Paul popped the red balloon at the party.
- The polite parrot repeated people’s phrases perfectly.
How to Pronounce the /p/ Sound — Practice Quiz
Q1
Question 1: What is the /p/ sound in English?
Q2
Question 2: When you make the /p/ sound, your vocal cords do not vibrate.
Q3
Question 3: Which sentence uses a word with the /p/ sound at the beginning correctly?
Q4
Question 4: Match each word to where the /p/ sound appears in it.
Q5