How to pronounce “ask”
Ask is pronounced /ˈæsk/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“ask” sound by sound
“ask” is built out of 3 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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æDrop the jaw noticeably, push the front of the tongue low and forward, and spread the lips — it is a flat, bright, fairly long American vowel.
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sHold the tongue tip near (not touching) the ridge behind the upper teeth and force a narrow stream of air down the groove of the tongue.
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kRaise the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, seal the air, then release it with a puff.
Words that rhyme with “ask”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “ask”
Each of these differs from “ask” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “ask”
- How do you pronounce “ask”?
- “ask” is pronounced /ˈæsk/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “ask”?
- “ask” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
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