The NG sound /ŋ/ is one of English's three nasal consonants, and it appears in thousands of everyday words—especially those ending in -ing. Getting this sound right is crucial for clear English pronunciation.
But here's what many learners don't realize: the NG sound is not just N + G! It's a completely unique sound made in the back of your mouth.
What Is the NG Sound?
The NG sound /ŋ/ is called a velar nasal. Let's break that down:
- Velar: Made at the velum (the soft part at the back of your mouth)
- Nasal: Air flows through your nose
Unlike N (which is made with your tongue behind your teeth), the NG sound is made with the back of your tongue touching the soft palate.
How to Make the NG Sound
- Keep your mouth slightly open
- Raise the back of your tongue to touch the soft palate (the back of the roof of your mouth)
- Lower your soft palate to let air flow through your nose
- Vibrate your vocal cords (it's a voiced sound)
- Don't let any air come out of your mouth - it all goes through your nose
Key tip: Say "N" and feel where your tongue is. Now try to move it back. That's where the NG sound is made!
Common Words with NG /ŋ/
-ING Endings (The Most Common!)
Words with NG in the Middle
Words Ending in NG
Important Pattern: When NG = /ŋ/ vs /ŋɡ/
Here's a tricky part: sometimes NG is pronounced as just /ŋ/, and sometimes it's /ŋɡ/ (with a G sound after).
NG = /ŋ/ (No G Sound)
- At the end of words: sing, ring, long, wrong
- In -ING endings: going, eating, singing
- In words like: singer, bringing, longing
NG = /ŋɡ/ (With G Sound)
- In the middle of root words: finger, hunger, anger, English
- Comparatives/superlatives: longer, strongest, younger
The Rule: If you can remove -ER or -EST and still have a word, use /ŋ/. If not, use /ŋɡ/.
- sing → singer (sing is a word) = /ˈsɪŋər/
- fing → finger (fing is NOT a word) = /ˈfɪŋɡər/
Minimal Pairs: Practice the Difference
NG /ŋ/ vs N
Singer vs Finger (Different NG Sounds!)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Adding a Hard G at the End of -ING
- Wrong: "go-ing-guh" or "eat-ing-guh"
- Right: "going" /ˈgoʊɪŋ/ (no G sound at the end)
Mistake 2: Saying N Instead of NG
- Wrong: "sin" when you mean "sing"
- Right: Move your tongue to the back of your mouth for NG
Mistake 3: Dropping the NG in -ING
In casual speech, some natives say "goin'" or "eatin'" but for clear pronunciation, always include the NG sound.
Mistake 4: Same Sound for All NG Words
Remember: "singer" and "finger" have different NG sounds!
Practice Sentences
Read these aloud, focusing on the NG sound:
-
I'm thinking about going to the singing lesson. (/ŋ/ - /ŋ/ - /ŋ/)
-
My finger is longer than yours. (/ŋɡ/ - /ŋɡ/)
-
The strong man is lifting heavy things. (/ŋ/ - /ŋ/ - /ŋ/)
-
She's bringing her younger brother to the English class. (/ŋ/ - /ŋɡ/ - /ŋɡ/)
-
I'm hanging the ring on a string. (/ŋ/ - /ŋ/ - /ŋ/)
Tongue Twisters for Practice
-
"The king was singing a lingering song."
-
"Bringing young things to the swing is wrong."
-
"I'm thinking of thanking the singing ringleader."
-
"She hung her long dress on the strong hanger."
How to Practice
-
Feel the position: Put your hand on your throat. Say "N" then "NG" - feel your tongue move back for NG.
-
Hum through your nose: The NG sound is like a hum that comes from the back of your mouth.
-
Practice -ING words daily: Since these are so common, focus on them first.
-
Watch the singer/finger distinction: Practice words like longer, stronger, younger where you need the G sound.
-
Record yourself: Compare your pronunciation to native speakers.
Why This Matters
The NG sound appears in:
- Every -ING verb form (going, doing, being, having...)
- Common words (thing, something, nothing, anything)
- Everyday expressions (What's going on? Nothing wrong.)
Getting the NG sound right will make your English sound much more natural and help listeners understand you better!
Sources
-
Phonetics Reference
- Roach, P. (2009). English Phonetics and Phonology: A Practical Course. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 5.
- Ladefoged, P., & Johnson, K. (2014). A Course in Phonetics. Cengage Learning. Chapter 3.
-
ESL Teaching Resources
- Celce-Murcia, M., Brinton, D., & Goodwin, J. (2010). Teaching Pronunciation: A Course Book and Reference Guide. Cambridge University Press.