Pronunciation - N, KN

TL;DR

Learn how to pronounce the letter "N" correctly and understand the silent "k" in words like "knew" and "knock".

Transcript

"What's new?" Has anyone ever said that to you before? And you don't understand what they've said to you? "What's new?" New York. New Jersey. No, "what's new?" is another way of saying, "Hello. How are you?" And my name's Ronnie. Today, I'm going to teach you about the letter "N", written like this in the capital. Hah! Where's my marker gone? It's ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😋 The letter "N" is pronounced by placing the tongue at the top of the mouth and making a voiced sound.
• 🔑 Words like "knew" and "knock" have a silent "k" and are pronounced the same as "new" and "nock".
• 🫤 The pronunciation of "n-n-n-n-n" can easily be confused with "m-m-m-m-m", but the difference lies in the position of the tongue and the openness of the mouth.
• 🌃 The word "knight" and "night" have the same pronunciation but different meanings.
• 🌃 In some informal spellings, the word "night" is written as "'nite".
• 🪢 The word "knot" is pronounced the same as "not" but refers to tying something together.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do you pronounce the letter "N"?

To pronounce the letter "N", place your tongue at the top of your mouth, spread across it, and press it up against the back of your teeth. Make a voiced "n-n-n-n-n" sound.

Q: What is the silent "k" in words like "knew" and "knock"?

In English, the "k" in words like "knew" and "knock" is silent. These words are pronounced the same as "new" and "nock" respectively.

Q: What is the difference in meaning between "knew" and "new"?

"Knew" is the past tense of "know" and means to have understood something in the past. "New" means not old or recently made or discovered.

Q: Are there any other words with the "N" sound?

Yes, other words with the "N" sound include "never", "now", "neck", "night", and "knot", which can have a silent "k" in certain contexts.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The letter "N" can be difficult to pronounce for some people, but it is pronounced by placing the tongue at the top of the mouth and making a voiced sound.

• Words like "knew" and "knock" have a silent "k" and are pronounced the same as "new" and "nock" respectively.

• Other words with the "N" sound include "never", "now", "neck", "night", and "knot".