Practice English consonant clusters in 20 words
Connect neighboring consonants in words such as strength, depth, script, and strictly.
Keep one vowel beat
Start with the one-syllable words text, script, and depth. Say them slowly while keeping their ending consonants attached to the same vowel. If you hear an added uh between consonants, try the transition again without giving it another beat.
Work from the edge inward
For scratch, connect s-k-r before adding the vowel. For exempt, practice m-p-t after the stressed vowel. Then say the complete word in its phrase. Slowing down should make the transition clearer without turning each consonant into a new syllable.
Notice real reductions
CMUdict lists fuller and reduced endings for clothes, next, and strength. Compare the forms described on their pages with the speaker’s pronunciation. The exercise is to hear the transition and choose a clear practice model, not to assume every listed consonant must be equally audible in all speech.
Your listening list
20 wordsChoose a word to hear it in an APG video.
Test these pronunciations
Try 4 questions from this guide. Each answer includes an APG video, dictionary reference, and explanation.
Try this guide’s quiz →More words in this topic
23 wordsKeep listening with an APG video and a pronunciation tip for each word.
- abhor
Keep both the “b” and “h” sounds.
- athlete
Connect “th” directly to “l.”
- eclectic
Give “clec” the strongest beat.
- enigma
Stress “nig” in the middle.
- environment
Keep the “vire” sound clear.
- exacerbate
Listen for “gz” before the stressed vowel.
- frugal
Start with “fr” and a strong “oo.”
- incongruous
Stress the second syllable.
- incumbent
Stress “cum,” and keep the “b.”
- language
Keep the “ng-gw” sequence connected.
- obfuscate
Stress the first syllable and keep “bf” together.
- obsequious
Stress “see,” then keep the “kw” sound.
- perfunctory
Give “func” the strongest beat.
- recalcitrant
rih-KAL-sih-trunt: put the main beat on KAL.
- sanguine
Stress “san” and keep the “gw” sequence.
- schedule
Begin with the connected sounds “sk.”
- schism
SKIZ-um: begin with the sk of “skin.”
- specific
Keep the initial “sp” together.
- squalor
SKWAH-ler: keep the initial skw together.
- squirrel
Move smoothly through “skw.”
- synagogue
SIN-uh-gog: the ending has a hard g.
- triathlon
try-ATH-lon: move from th straight into l.
- vulnerable
VUL-ner-uh-buhl: keep the first l before n.
Sources & classroom use
Each listening tip follows the IPA shown beside its word. Other dictionary pronunciations appear on the word page; individual speakers may vary.
Practice phrases were written for these exercises; quoted book passages remain in the separate, sourced book sections. These guides and practice notes are available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Credit American Pronunciation Guide and retain the linked dictionary attributions. Videos and other reference material keep their own terms.
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