Lips
Close both lips together gently. They stay closed for the whole sound.
Other consonants
/m/as in man
Voiced nasal. Lips closed, air through the nose.
Example words: man, swim, come, summer, mother
Accent
Mouth
How do you pronounce the /m/ sound?
Tongue
Let your tongue rest low and relaxed. It does nothing here. All the action is at the lips and in the nose.
Video lesson
Try it
- Close your lips gently.
- Switch your voice on and let the sound flow out through your nose.
- Hum "mmm" and feel your lips and nose vibrate.
- Hold the hum for two seconds, then say: man, swim, come.
Check
Hum "mmm" and pinch your nose shut. The sound should stop instantly. If it keeps going, air is escaping through your mouth and it is not a true /m/.
Common trap
Do not let the sound stop short at the ends of words. In "swim" or "come", keep your lips closed and let the hum continue through your nose. Do not pop the lips open into an extra vowel.
Practice: /m/
Words
manmˈæn
swimswˈɪm
comekˈʌm
summersˈʌməɹ
mothermˈʌðəɹ
Sentences
The man swims every morning in summer.ðə mˈæn swˈɪmz ˈɛvəɹi mˈɔɹnɪŋ ɪn sˈʌməɹ.
My mother made me some warm milk.mˌaɪ mˈʌðəɹ mˌeɪd mˌi sˌʌm wˈɔɹm mˈɪlk.
Come home before it gets dark, Mom!kˈʌm hˈoʊm bəfˈɔɹ ɪt ɡɛts dˈɑɹk, mˈɑm!
We may come to the market tomorrow.wˌi mˈeɪ kˈʌm tə ðə mˈɑɹkət təmˈɑɹoʊ.
He met his family at the museum.hˌi mˈɛt hɪz fˈæməli æt ðə mjuzˈiəm.
Words
manmˈan
swimswˈɪm
comekˈʌm
summersˈʌmə
mothermˈʌðə
Sentences
The man swims every morning in summer.ðə mˈan swˈɪmz ˈɛvəɹi mˈɔːnɪŋ ɪn sˈʌmə.
My mother made me some warm milk.mˌaɪ mˈʌðə mˌeɪd mˌiː sˌʌm wˈɔːm mˈɪlk.
Come home before it gets dark, Mom!kˈʌm hˈəʊm bɪfˈɔː ɪt ɡɛts dˈɑːk, mˈɒm!
We may come to the market tomorrow.wˌiː mˈeɪ kˈʌm tə ðə mˈɑːkɪt tʊmˈɒɹəʊ.
He met his family at the museum.hˌiː mˈɛt hɪz fˈamɪli at ðə mjuːzˈiːəm.
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Sounds in the same group
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