How to pronounce DG in English

START TODAY

One of the biggest challenges for English learners is the correct production of the language’s own sounds, as this is especially important to ensure the proper pronunciation of words and, therefore, successful communication.

The DG consonant cluster can be difficult to pronounce since it is not a sound that exists in Spanish. However, the sound of this group also exists as a sound of other letters in English, so learning to pronounce it will be very useful in your study of this language. In this article, ABA English offers you some tips to help you correctly pronounce English words with DG.

English phonetics of DG

The phonemes of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) include the symbols used to represent all the sounds heard when pronouncing English, which correspond to English phonetics. Being able to interpret this set of symbols related to phonemes is a great advantage for understanding how to pronounce words in English. Surely, you already know something about the IPA, as you find it next to words in dictionaries either between brackets or slashes. So keep reading to learn more about how to pronounce DG in English.

The phonemes of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) include the symbols used to represent all the sounds heard when pronouncing English, which correspond to English phonetics. Being able to interpret this set of symbols related to phonemes is a great advantage for understanding how to pronounce words in English. Surely, you already know something about the IPA, as you find it next to words in dictionaries either between brackets or slashes. So keep reading to learn more about how to pronounce DG in English. 

How to pronounce DG in English

Phonetic transcription of English words with DG

In all cases the DG consonant cluster is found in the middle of the word and the phoneme representing its sound is /ʒ/. This phoneme, as happens in the pronunciation of the English J, represents a voiced postalveolar fricative and in Spanish the closest sound we find is in some words such as ‘adyacencia’.

The sound indicated by this phoneme is produced by bringing the upper and lower teeth together, pulling the corners of the mouth to the center and everting the lips. The tongue’s position is almost against the palate, pressing the edges against the upper teeth; the tip points downward without touching anything. The air escapes between the teeth. Let’s see two examples of English words with dg, bridge (bridge) /brɪdʒ/ and edge (edge) /edʒ/, which in Spanish would sound something like ‘bridy’ and ‘edy’, respectively; remember here that the group ‘dy’ is pronounced like in ‘adyacente’. It is very likely that at first this will seem a bit complicated, but remember that practice is essential in language learning.

How to improve the pronunciation of DG in English

Improve your pronunciation of the DG group by practicing the words given as examples in this article. Additionally, you can practice the pronunciation of pidgin (pidgin) /ˈpɪdʒ.ɪn/ and dodge (dodge) /dɒdʒ/ by correctly reading the IPA symbols or by listening to the pronunciation in an online dictionary; also, you will be able to expand your vocabulary with these new words.
It will be very helpful to pay attention to the pronunciation of words with the DG group made by native speakers. When you hear a word, try to repeat it imitating the pronunciation of those speakers as closely as possible. This will help you for any sound you want to learn.
Finally, you can record yourself saying the words we provide here as examples and then listen to your recording, pause, and see where you need to correct. You can do this with the exercises Listen-Record-Compare in our course!
How to pronounce DG in English

Other links of your interest:

WHY ABA ENGLISH?

ABA English is your best option if you want to learn English at your own pace through an online course. You can use the device you prefer – computer, mobile or tablet – and follow a study plan tailored to you. Set a goal and go for it. A teacher will accompany you from day one to help you achieve it.

No matter what level you have. You can start from the beginning, at Beginners level and reach the Business C1 level. Each time you pass a level, you will receive an official ABA English certificate that you can share on LinkedIn.

We have for you an exclusive and effective method, based on an engaging and exciting learning experience. We know that if there is no interest, there are no results. That is why all our units start with the viewing of a short film, the ABA Films.

Register FREE and try it. Discover why more than 25 million students have chosen ABA English to learn English. We look forward to seeing you!

REGISTER