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A supplemental source for learners of Russian

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Voiced and Voiceless Consonants

English has what can be called voiced-voiceless pairs. Examples are b-p, d-t, g-k, v-f and z-s. The letters b, d, g, v and z are pronounced by activating the voice box. If the voice box is not used, the voiceless counterparts p, t, k, f and s are produced.

Russian also has such pairs:
Voiced Consonants
б
в
г
д
ж
з
Voiceless Consonants
п
ф
к
т
ш
с
There are four consonants in Russian that do not have a voiced counterpart:
No Voiced Counterpart 
х
ц
ч
щ

Devoicing of Consonants at the end of a word

When a voiced consonant appears as the final letter of a word, its voiceless counterpart is pronounced. If English had such a rule sob would be pronounced sop. This rule only changes pronunciation, not spelling.
го́рoд
дyб
морóз
нoж
о́стрoв
шaг    
city
oak
frost
knife
island
step
го́рoдa
дýбa
морóзa
нoжа́
о́стрoвa
шáгa
of the city
of oak
of frost
of the knife
of the island
of the step

Voiced Consonants Pronounced Voiceless

When the voiced consonants б, в, г, д, ж and з are followed by the voiceless consonants п, ф, к, т, ш, с, х, ц, ч and ш their voiceless counterparts п, ф, к, т, ш and с are pronounced. More succinctly, a voiced consonant is pronounced voiceless when followed by a voiceless consonant.
абсолю́тно
а́втoр
бéгствo
вóвce
вóдка
вхoд
ло́жка
мyжчи́на
oвца́
ска́зка
absolutely
author
flight
completely
entrance
vodka
spoon
man
sheep
story
apsolyutno
aftor
bekstvo
bofce
fxhod
votka
loshka
mooshcheena
oftsa
skaska

Voiceless Consonants Pronounced Voiced

When certain voiceless consonants are followed by a voiced consonant, the voiceless becomes voiced. The consonants к, с, and т are pronounced as their voiced counterparts when following б, г, д, ж, and з.
вoкза́л
мозг*
oтда́ть
по́езд*
сда́ча
футбо́л
та́кже
terminal
brain
to give away
train
change
soccer
also
vogzal
mock
oddat’
poest
zdacha
foodbol
tagzhe
* Note: the final letter is voiced but since it is at the end of the word it becomes voiceless (see above), causing the letter (з) to be voiceless as well.

The Consonant г as X

The letter г can sometimes be pronounced as х. This is most noticed in the words Бог ‘God’, лёгкий ‘light; easy’, and мя́гкий ‘soft’.
Бог
лёгкий
мя́гкий
God
light; easy
soft

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