/m/

LISTEN

/m/…/m/…/m/…/m/

map…time…hammer…number

WHAT IS IT?

Pronunciation:
The sound /m/ is a voiced, bilabial, nasal consonant. 

  • Press your lips together and breathe out through your nose.
  • Forcefully pull your lips apart and let air out in a short burst.
  • Your vocal cords should vibrate.

​The sound /m/ can be in these clusters:

BEGINNING OF A SYLLABLE

/sm/ (“sm”) – sm​ell

END OF A SYLLABLE

​​​​​​​/mz/ (“ms” / “mes”) – rooms, homes 
/md/ (“med” / “mmed” / “mbed”) – aimed, hummed, combed​
/lm/ (“lm”) – film
/lmz/ (“lms”) – helms
/lmd/ (“lmed”) – filmed
/rm/ (“rm”) – form
/rmz/ (“rms”) – harms
/rmd/ (“rmed”) – armed
/zm/ (“sm”) – realism
/zmz/ (“sms”) – prisms
/ðm/ (“thm”) – rhythm​
/mp/ (“mp”) – lamp​​​
/mps/ (“mps”) – camps
/mpt/ (“mpt” / “mped”) – prompt, jumped  
/mpts/ (“mpts”) – attempts
/mf/ (“mph”) – triumph
/mfs/ (“mphs”) – nymphs
/mpft/ (“mphed”) – triumphed

Spelling:

  • “m” – him, film
  • “me” – time, home
  • “mm” – summer, common
  • “mb” – dumb, lamb
  • “lm” – calm, palm
  • “mn” (not common) – hymn​

Grammar Tip:

The sound /m/ is used in the suffix “-ism.” This suffix can be pronounced as one syllable (/ɪzm/) or two syllables (/ɪz-əm/). When “ism” is added, the stress of the word does not change.This suffix may be added to certain adjectives, nouns, or verbs. 

  • Adjective –> Noun: fatal –> fatalism, intellectual –> intellectualism
  • Noun –> Noun: tour –> tourism, alcohol –> alcoholism
  • Verb –> Noun: plagiarize –> plagiarism, criticize –> criticism​

COMPARE

Compare /m/ with /n/:

/m/…/n/…/m/…/n/…/m/…/n/

These are both voiced nasal consonants. However, /m/ is a bilabial consonant while /n/ is an alveolar consonant. When you pronounce /m/, your lips should touch each other.

You can recognize the difference between /m/ and /n/ in these words.

1. A. met, B. net​
3. A. some, B. sun
​2. A. smack, B. snack
4. A. term, B. turn
​5. A. limes, B. lines
6. A. gaming, B. gaining

​Practice recognizing words with /m/ and /n/ by taking the quiz here (external site).

Now, compare /m/ and /b/:

/m/…/b/…/m/…/b/…/m/…/b/

These are both voiced, bilabial consonants. However, /m/ is a nasal consonant and /b/ is a stop consonant. When you pronounce /m/, air should flow out of your nose.

You can hear the difference between /m/ and /n/ in these words.

1. A. mean, B. bean​
2. A. mom, B. bomb
3. A. hum, B. hub
5. A. rims, B. ribs
6. A. scamming, B. scabbing
4. A. unmeant, B. unbent

Practice recognizing words with /m/ and /b/ by taking the quiz here (external site).

PRACTICE

Listen and repeat these words.

1. map
2. meal
3. mother
4. smell
5. time
6. rooms
7. claimed
8. film
9. arm
10. camp

11. prompt
12. triumph
13. hammer
14. harmful
15. tumble
16. simple
17. remember
18. spasm
19. criticism
20. environment

Now, practice /m/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.

1. family – moved – farm​
​His family just moved to a farm.
2. claimed – problem – simple
The teacher claimed that the problem was simple.
3. animals – harmed – making – film 
No animals were harmed in the making of this film.
4. smell – smoke – campfire
I smell smoke from a campfire.
5. criticism – harmful – improve
Criticism can be harmful, or it can help you improve.
​6. remember – mother’s – number
Do you remember your mother’s phone number

To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:

Male – US Midwest (St. Louis)

Male – US Midwest (Iowa)

Male – US Midwest

Female – US Northeast

Female – US Southeast

USE IT

Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.

​Prepare:
What do you think are the most important problems in your hometown?

  • ​Crime
  • Effects of climate change
  • Immigration
  • Racism
  • Unemployment
  • Economic development
  • Preserving a clean, natural environment
  • Homelessness
  • Disease epidemics
  • Transportation systems

Record:
Choose the 2 problems that you think are most important for your hometown to solve. In your recording, explain why these problems are important and suggest a possible solution for each one.

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©2024, Christine Wingate

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