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:
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
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 |