# data[].attributes.body
4. /fr/

1. free

2. friend

3. from

5. /gr/

1. great

2. green

3. grow

6. /pr/

1. price

2. practice

3. private

# data[].attributes.body
1./br/

1. break

2. bring

3. brother

2. /kr/

1. cry

2. create

3. crazy

3. /dr/

1. draw

2. drive

3. dream

# data[].attributes.body
10./str/

1. street

2. strong

3. stress

11./tr/

1.  try

2. tree

3. true

12./θr/

1. three

2. throw

3. through

# data[].attributes.body
7. /ʃr/

1. shrimp

2. shrink

3. shrug

8. /skr/

1. scratch

2. scream

3. screen

9. /spr/

1. spring

2. spread

3. spray

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Consonant Clusters | English Pronunciation Lesson

# data[].attributes.body
In English, consonant clusters can occur at the beginning (an initial consonant cluster), in the middle (a medial consonant cluster) or at the end of a syllable (a final consonant cluster). For example, in the world brilliant which has two syllables, there is a consonant cluster at the beginning of the first syllable (“br”), at the end of the first syllable (“ll”), and at the end of the second syllable (“nt”). They can also occur in the middle of a syllable, for example the consonant cluster “ch” in the middle of the word “ache”.

The consonant clusters belonging to a single syllable are known as intra-syllabic clusters whereas the consonant clusters belonging to two different syllables in a single word are known as inter-syllabic clusters. Thus, in linguistics, a consonant cluster also known as consonant blend is a group of consonants which have no intervening vowels in between them. The maximum possibility of consonant cluster is three consonants in the beginning and four in final position.

# data[].attributes.body
Now that you have a firm grasp on what consonant blends actually are, let’s look at some examples of commonly used and heard words that use them.

Blend, bland, blue, black, blanket, bleach, blast, blatant, blame, bluebird, bleak

Brake, brew, brim, broom, brain, brand, brave, brat, breeze, breathe, breed, break

Click, clam, clambake, clammy, clap, clapping, clarify, clarity, clash, climb, cling, clock

Crab, crumb, crib, cry, crank, crow, crew, crud, crazy, create, creation, credit, creature

Drew, draw, drain, drat, drone, drink, drag, dragon, drastic, drawer, drawbridge

# data[].attributes.headline
You can become more familiar and comfortable with consonant blends by examining some of the letters that are commonly joined together in consonant blends including: 

# data[].attributes.subject
You can become more familiar and comfortable with consonant blends by examining some of the letters that are commonly joined together in consonant blends including: 

# data[].attributes.body
bl             dr               br              Cl                   cr                 gr

fl              pr              pr               Gl                  pl                 tr

dr             cl               fl                Sl                  fr                 sc

sk                               str                                    scr

st                                sh                                    spl

sw                              th                                     spr

sn                               tw                                    squ

sm                              wr                                    thr

wh                              sch                                   shr

Many of these consonant blends probably look familiar to you since we all use words with them on a daily basis.

# data[].attributes.body
Allophones of /t/ and /d/ before /r/ often cause the /tr/ and /dr/ cluster to be pronounced similarly to /ʧr/ and /ʤr/, respectively. In addition to the stops becoming affricate-like, the /r/ also takes on the qualities of a fricative as it blends with the consonant before it. This is also true with the /tr/ of the /str/ cluster.

Because most dictionaries do not transcribe individual allophones, the first transcription shown below is the more common dictionary transcription. The second transcription can help non-native English speakers better understand the common pronunciation used by native English speakers.
1. /tr/    →    /ʧr/      tree: /tri/            → /ʧri/
2. /dr/   →    /ʤr/     dream: /drim/   → /ʤrim/
3. /str/  →    /ʧr/       street: /strim/   → /sʧrit/

trace          track            tract           tractor           trade            tradition
traffic        tragedy        tragic         trail               trailer           train
trainer       traipse          trait           traitor            tram             tramp
trample     trampoline   trance        tranquil         transfer         translate
transmit    transplant     transport   trap                trapeze         trash
trauma      travel

# data[].attributes.body
In the consonant cluster ‘nt’, if it is followed by a vowel sound, the /t/ may be dropped. A flapped ‘n’ is used in its place.

Listen to the pronunciation of these examples. The first word is with proper enunciation, the second with the reduced sounds. Then listen to the words  in sentences.

The center of town is that way. (cen’ner)

The renter of the house couldn’t pay the rent. (ren’ner)

That shirt costs twenty dollars. (twen’ny)

# data[].attributes.body
In the consonant cluster ‘th’, the /th/ can be changed or dropped.

Listen to the pronunciation of these examples. The first word is with proper enunciation, the second with the reduced sounds. Then listen to the words in sentences.

The ‘th’ may become a /t/ as in months (munts)

There are twelve months in a year.

The ‘th’ may become a /k/ as in strengths (strengks)

Athletes strengths are sapped if they exercise excessively.

The ‘th’ may become a /thv/ as in twelfths (twelfs)

The recipe calls for seven-twelfths of a cup of butter.

# data[].attributes.body
In the consonant cluster ‘sks’ the /k/ may be dropped.

Listen to the pronunciation of these examples. The first word is with proper enunciation, the second with the reduced sounds. Then listen to the words in sentences.

masks (mas:s)

At a costume party, masks are mandatory.

asks (as:s)

A certain relative of mine often asks me for money.

desks (des:s)

The desks used in classrooms are usually uncomfortable.

# data[].attributes.body
In the consonant cluster ‘sts’, the /t/ can be dropped.

Listen to the pronunciation of these examples. The first word is with proper enunciation, the second with the reduced sounds. Then listen to the words in sentences.

Costs (cos:s)

A Porsche costs way too much for me.

Masts (mas:s)

The masts on the sailing ship were over forty feet tall.

Tests (tes:s)

Most students are not that fond of tests.

# data[].attributes.body
A consonant cluster (sometimes known as a consonant blend) is a group of consonants that appear together in a word without any vowels between them. When reading clusters, each letter within the cluster is pronounced individually.

Sometimes in certain consonant clusters (a string of two or more consonants in a word) the sounds may be reduced or dropped. Below are some of these reductions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Oral English assessments and ESL speaking English activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Spoken English web tools for language teachers and ESL schools.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BBC - Words and Pictures - Wordblender home

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The most-complete, fun, free phonetics resource on the web! Brought to you by Cambridge English Online Ltd.