This page offers practice in five more tricky consonant clusters that occur in English. Below, you will find a description of each cluster, as well as practice with words, tongue twisters, and practical sentences that include the cluster. Use the record and play buttons to compare your pronunciation to each example. Notice how a cluster might appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.
Jump to a Cluster
Additional Clusters
The first sound is /p/. To make this sound, press your upper and lower lips together, briefly stopping the air. Then, release the air. Just after, you need to make an /l/ sound. This sound is made by touching your tongue to the top of your mouth behind your teeth and vibrating the vocal cords as you let the air flow out the sides of your tongue. The starting position for this sound, therefore, is with your lips pressed together and your tongue towards the front of your mouth to prepare for the /l/ sound. The two sounds are made almost simultaneously. This is a quick transition and will take practice.
In Words
Here are several common words that include /pl/. It’s a good idea to be comfortable with their pronunciation.
plane plus plastic please applaud apply pleasant supply split splinter reply
This cluster plays an important role in the difference between the paired words below. Listen to each pair, paying attention to how the first word differs from the second.
please | peas ply | pie plus | pus plane | pain
*Note: If you are a Spanish speaker, be sure not to add a schwa /ə/ sound before a word that begins with an /s/. Many of these words use the /pl/ cluster, including “splash,” “splint,” and “splendid.” To avoid adding a schwa before these words, make sure to start forming each word at the front of the mouth to focus on the /s/ sound. Record yourself saying /s/ words and listen for extra schwas, and work with a speech consultant to increase awareness of this sound.
In Sentences
It’s important to go beyond single words when you practice sounds in English. Tongue twisters (difficult-to-pronounce sentences) are a great way to train your tongue to pronounce clusters in a stream of speech. Listen to how each tongue twister is pronounced. Be sure to note the sounds or words that might be challenging for you, and how many times you will pronounce clusters.
Place plastic supplies plus plants on the platter.
Please apply applause. Please apply applause.
Record yourself repeating each tongue twister. Try it slowly first, and then gradually increase to a fluid, natural-feeling pace. Repeat this exercise several times a day. You can try creating your own tongue twisters, too!
Pronunciation practice is even more effective in a meaningful context. Here are several sentences with clusters that you may find yourself saying frequently.
Listen to how each sentence is pronounced. Which word(s) include the following clusters?
Can I please have the supplies for the play?
Is the plane planning on leaving?
The first sound is /p/, which is made by pursing your lips together and pushing a puff of air from behind your lips as your release them. Just after, you need to make an /r/ sound. This sound is made by curling your tongue upwards without letting it touch the roof of your mouth and vibrating your vocal cords so the air escapes around the sides of your tongue. The starting position for this sound, therefore, is with your lips pressed together and your tongue ready to quickly curl back to produce the /r/ sound. These sounds are made almost simultaneously. This is a quick transition and will take practice.
In Words
Here are several common words that include /pr/. It’s a good idea to be comfortable with their pronunciation.
surprise press proud pretty preview impress pressure private prime improve
This cluster plays an important role in the difference between the paired words below. Listen to each pair, paying attention to how the first word differs from the second.
prize | pies pray | pay prattle | paddle prop | pop prayed | parade
*Note: If you are a Spanish speaker, be sure not to add a schwa /ə/ sound before a word that begins with an /s/. Many of these words use the /pl/ cluster, including “spray,” “sprint,” and “spring.” To avoid adding a schwa before these words, make sure to start forming each word at the front of the mouth to focus on the /s/ sound. Record yourself saying /s/ words and listen for extra schwas, and work with a speech consultant to increase awareness of this sound.
In Sentences
It’s important to go beyond single words when you practice sounds in English. Tongue twisters (difficult-to-pronounce sentences) are a great way to train your tongue to pronounce clusters in a stream of speech. Listen to how each tongue twister is pronounced. Be sure to note the sounds or words that might be challenging for you, and how many times you will pronounce clusters.
Impressive pressure privately proves surprises.
Proud pretty princesses eat pretzels with princes..
Record yourself repeating each tongue twister. Try it slowly first, and then gradually increase to a fluid, natural-feeling pace. Repeat this exercise several times a day. You can try creating your own tongue twisters, too!
Pronunciation practice is even more effective in a meaningful context. Here are several sentences with clusters that you may find yourself saying frequently.
Listen to how each sentence is pronounced. Which word(s) include the following clusters?
Were you impressed by the surprise?
Can my grade improve if I prep for the tests?
Record yourself repeating each sentence, focusing on the pronunciation of each individual cluster. Repeat this exercise several times a day.
/kl/ is a cluster, which is a combination of two sounds. The first sound is /k/, which is made by lifting the back of your tongue towards the soft palate and then pushing the air out of your throat quickly. Before you let the air out, stop it briefly behind your tongue. Just after, you need to make an /l/ sound. This sound is made by touching your tongue to the top of your mouth behind your teeth and vibrating the vocal cords as you let the air flow around the sides of your tongue.The starting position for this sound, therefore, is with your lips open and your tongue raised to your soft palate, ready to push your tongue forward to produce the /l/ sound.These sounds are made almost simultaneously. This is a quick transition and will take practice.
In Words
Here are several common words that include /kl/. It’s a good idea to be comfortable with their pronunciation.
acclaim class cloud cliffinclude cling clock clusterunclear clogs cleft
This cluster plays an important role in the difference between the paired words below. Listen to each pair, paying attention to how the first word differs from the second.
club | cub clap | cap claw | caw clash | cash claps | collapse
In Sentences
It’s important to go beyond single words when you practice sounds in English. Tongue twisters (difficult-to-pronounce sentences) are a great way to train your tongue to pronounce clusters in a stream of speech. Listen to how each tongue twister is pronounced. Be sure to note the sounds or words that might be challenging for you, and how many times you will pronounce clusters.
Clean the Klondike. Clean the Klondike.
Classy clean claws acclimate to clear clogs.
Record yourself repeating each tongue twister. Try it slowly first, and then gradually increase to a fluid, natural-feeling pace. Repeat this exercise several times a day. You can try creating your own tongue twisters, too!
Pronunciation practice is even more effective in a meaningful context. Here are several sentences with clusters that you may find yourself saying frequently.
Listen to how each sentence is pronounced. Which word(s) include the following clusters?
Is homework included in this class?
The clock clearly says class is over.
/kr/ is a cluster, which is a combination of two sounds. The first sound is /k/, which is made by lifting the back of your tongue towards the soft palate and then pushing the air out of your throat quickly. Before you let the air out, stop it briefly behind your tongue. Just after, you need to make an /r/ sound. This sound is made by curling your tongue upwards without letting it hit the roof of your mouth and vibrating your vocal cords so the air escapes around the sides of your tongue.The starting position for this sound, therefore, is with your lips open and your tongue raised to your soft palate, ready to curl your tongue back to produce the /r/ sound. These sounds are made almost simultaneously. This is a quick transition and will take practice.
In Words
Here are several common words that include /kr/. It’s a good idea to be comfortable with their pronunciation.
crowded increasecrispy accreditcrunchcradle crawl crouch accrue incredible decrease
This cluster plays an important role in the difference between the paired words below. Listen to each pair, paying attention to how the first word differs from the second.
crab | cab crawl | call creep | keep Chris | kiss
In Sentences
It’s important to go beyond single words when you practice sounds in English. Tongue twisters (difficult-to-pronounce sentences) are a great way to train your tongue to pronounce clusters in a stream of speech. Listen to how each tongue twister is pronounced. Be sure to note the sounds or words that might be challenging for you, and how many times you will pronounce clusters.
Crispy crunchy crazy croutons and crackers.
Increase the cream. Decrease the cream. Increase the cream. Decrease the cream.
Record yourself repeating each tongue twister. Try it slowly first, and then gradually increase to a fluid, natural-feeling pace. Repeat this exercise several times a day. You can try creating your own tongue twisters, too!
Pronunciation practice is even more effective in a meaningful context. Here are several sentences with clusters that you may find yourself saying frequently.
Listen to how each sentence is pronounced. Which word(s) include the following clusters?
I crunched the numbers and they increased.
Is the subway crowded and cramped?
/tr/ is a cluster, which is a combination of two sounds, /t/ and /r/. When these two sounds combine, together they produce a new sound, /tʃ/ + /r/. The first sound is /tʃ/, which is made by placing the tip of your tongue just behind the hard ridge at the top of your mouth. Push air forward out of your mouth. Stop the air completely at first, and then release it. Just after, you need to make an /r/ sound. This sound is made by curling your tongue upwards without letting it hit the roof of your mouth, and vibrating your vocal cords so the air escapes out the sides of your tongue.The starting position for this sound, therefore, is with your lips open and your tongue raised to your soft palate, ready to curl your tongue back to produce the /r/ sound. These sounds are made almost simultaneously. This is a quick transition and will take practice.
In Words
Here are several common words that include /tr/. It’s a good idea to be comfortable with their pronunciation.
trouble train try intrigued triple travel traffic untrue trick truffle
This cluster plays an important role in the difference between the paired words below. Listen to each pair, paying attention to how the first word differs from the second.
try | tie trip | tip tropic | topic tree | tea train | terrain
In Sentences
It’s important to go beyond single words when you practice sounds in English. Tongue twisters (difficult-to-pronounce sentences) are a great way to train your tongue to pronounce clusters in a stream of speech. Listen to how each tongue twister is pronounced. Be sure to note the sounds or words that might be challenging for you, and how many times you will pronounce clusters.
The traveling train’s trapped in traffic.
Truffles are treats. Truffles are treats. Truffles are treats.
Record yourself repeating each tongue twister. Try it slowly first, and then gradually increase to a fluid, natural-feeling pace. Repeat this exercise several times a day. You can try creating your own tongue twisters, too!
Pronunciation practice is even more effective in a meaningful context. Here are several sentences with clusters that you may find yourself saying frequently. Listen to how each sentence is pronounced. Which word(s) include the following clusters?
The truth is I tried to get my grade to triple.
Can I travel there by train?