The /G/Sound: Speech Therapy Guide & Practice Games

The /G/ sound is a voiced velar stop. It is the voiced partner of /K/ and is produced by raising the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, briefly stopping airflow, and then releasing it while the vocal cords vibrate. It appears in words like "go," "big," and "tiger."

calendar_monthAge of mastery:3-4
trending_upFrequency:Common
sports_esportsGames available:8
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How to Make the /G/ Sound

Raise the back of your tongue up to touch the soft palate (the back part of the roof of your mouth), just like for /K/. The front of your tongue stays down and relaxed. Turn your voice on — you should feel a vibration in your throat. Briefly stop the airflow with the back of your tongue, then release it in a quick burst.

IPA Symbol: /ɡ/

Most children master the /G/ sound by age 3-4, typically developing around the same time as /K/. Since /G/ is the voiced version of /K/, children who can produce /K/ usually acquire /G/ soon after.

Common /G/ Sound Errors

  • error_outlineSubstituting /D/ for /G/ — called "fronting" (e.g., "do" for "go")
  • error_outlineUsing the front of the tongue instead of the back
  • error_outlineOmitting the /G/ sound, especially in final position
  • error_outlineProducing /G/ without enough voicing (so it sounds like /K/)
  • error_outlineSubstituting a glottal stop for /G/
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/G/ Word Lists by Position

Practice these words organized by where the /G/ sound appears. Start with the position your child finds easiest.

Initial Position

/G/ at the beginning of words

gamegardengategetghostgiftgirlgiveglassgogoatgoldgolfgoodgoosegorillagrassgreengrowguitar

Medial Position

/G/ in the middle of words

againagoalligatorbagelbeaglebiggerdragoneaglefingerfroggigglejugglelegomagnetnuggetpigeonsugartigertogetherwagon

Final Position

/G/ at the end of words

bagbigbugdigdogeggflagfogfroghugjugleglogmugpigplugrugtagtugwig
sports_esportsPractice these words with our games
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Tips for Practicing the /G/ Sound at Home

Evidence-based strategies parents can use to support /G/ sound practice.

1

Use the "gargling" cue: gargling water or pretending to gargle engages the back of the tongue, which is the same movement needed for /G/.

2

Pair /G/ with /K/ practice since they use the same tongue position. If your child can say /K/, add voicing to make /G/.

3

Have your child place a hand on their throat to feel the vibration, distinguishing /G/ (voiced) from /K/ (voiceless).

4

The lying-on-back trick works for /G/ too — gravity helps the tongue fall to the back of the mouth.

5

Use a tongue depressor to hold the tongue tip down while encouraging the back of the tongue to rise.

6

Practice with motivating words: "go," "game," "good," "get," "give," "goldfish," "gorilla."

7

Play games that naturally elicit /G/: "Go Fish," "Guess Who," or "Green Light, Go!"

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Practice Sentences for the /G/ Sound

Read these sentences aloud with your child. Words containing the /G/ sound are highlighted.

The girl gave the goat a gift in the garden.

Go get the green guitar from the garage.

The big dog dug a hole by the gate.

A giggling gorilla juggled golden eggs.

The eagle and the dragon played a game together.

Grandma baked a good bagel with sugar on top.

The alligator wiggled through the foggy swamp.

Tag the big frog before it hops off the log.

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Games for the /G/ Sound

Practice the /G/ sound with interactive games designed by speech pathologists.

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Bubble Pop

/G/ practice

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Memory Match

/G/ practice

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Pizza Builder

/G/ practice

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Space Blaster

/G/ practice

phishing

Sound Fishing

/G/ practice

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Word Runner

/G/ practice

pest_control

Whack-a-Word

/G/ practice

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Story Adventure

/G/ practice

Play games for the /G/ sound
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Frequently Asked Questions About the /G/ Sound

Common questions parents ask about the /G/ sound in speech therapy.

When should my child be able to say the /G/ sound?expand_more
Most children master /G/ by age 3-4. Since /G/ and /K/ use the same tongue position (with /G/ adding voicing), they typically develop around the same time.
My child says /D/ instead of /G/. Is that normal?expand_more
Substituting /D/ for /G/ is called "fronting" and is a normal developmental pattern up to about age 3-4. If your child is still fronting after age 4, speech therapy may help.
Should I work on /K/ or /G/ first?expand_more
Most speech therapists recommend starting with /K/ (the voiceless version) since it is slightly easier to learn in isolation. Once /K/ is established, adding the voicing component to produce /G/ is usually straightforward.
How is /G/ different from /D/?expand_more
Both are voiced stop sounds, but they are made in different parts of the mouth. For /D/, the tongue tip touches behind the upper front teeth (front of mouth). For /G/, the back of the tongue touches the soft palate (back of mouth). A flashlight and mirror can help show your child the difference.
What games can help my child practice /G/?expand_more
Games like "Go Fish," "Guess Who," "Green Light Go," and building with LEGOs are naturally loaded with /G/ words. You can also play "Gorilla Tag" or any game where your child has to say "go," "get," "good job," or "again" frequently.

Related Sounds

/K/

K Sound

View guide

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