How to pronounce “plague”
Plague is pronounced /ˈpleɪɡ/. 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.
The common mispronunciation of “plague”
✗ Often said: /ˈplæɡʌe/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈpleɪɡ/
Why the two come apart: the silent “u” after “g”/“q” is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “plague” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“plague” sound by sound
“plague” is built out of 4 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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pPress both lips together, build up air behind them, then release with a puff of air (aspiration) when the sound starts a stressed syllable.
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lTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth and let the voiced air flow around the sides of the tongue.
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eɪStart at the /e/ position and glide upward and forward toward /ɪ/ — the jaw closes as you say it.
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ɡBack of the tongue seals against the soft palate and releases while the voice is already on — no puff of air.
Silent letters in “plague”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- uThe letter “u”Silent “u” after “g”/“q” — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “plague”
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 “plague”
Each of these differs from “plague” 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 “plague”
- How do you pronounce “plague”?
- “plague” is pronounced /ˈpleɪɡ/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “plague”?
- “plague” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “plague”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈplæɡʌe/, but it is actually /ˈpleɪɡ/, because the silent “u” after “g”/“q” is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it.
- Does “plague” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “u” after “g”/“q”.
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