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PRONUNCIATION: BASIC SOUNDS
The J Sound and the Y Sound
/dʒ/ and /j/

GOAL

I can make the J sound and the Y sound.

TRY IT!

Read the sentence below.

A teenager in yellow pajamas yelled at John.

SOUNDS

Learn how to pronounce today's sounds.
Sound Profile

/dʒ/

Voicing

yes

Mouth

slightly open

Lips

slightly pushed forward

Teeth

Tongue

the tip of the tongue touching behind the top front teeth ➡ pulled back

Jaw

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth and push your lips forward.

  2. Press the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth.

  3. Make a voiced sound. At the same time, pull your tongue back.

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the J sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

badge ➡ bajji (バッジ)

revenge ➡ ribenji (リベンジ)

image ➡ imeeji (イメージ)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

/j/

Voicing

yes

Mouth

slightly open

Lips

Teeth

Tongue

the middle of the tongue close to but not touching the roof of the mouth ➡ dropped down

Jaw

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth.

  2. Raise the middle of your tongue close to but not touching the roof of your mouth.

  3. Make a voiced sound. At the same time, drop your tongue down.

Katakana Otoshiana

English words with the Y sound are written in katakana in many different ways.

 

yacht ➡ yotto (ヨット)

thank you ➡ sankyuu (サンキュー)

yes ➡ iesu (イエス)

yellow ➡ ieroo (イエロー)

 

However, in English, the Y sound is always formed the same way, regardless of the vowel that follows it.

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth and push your lips forward.

  2. Press the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth.

  3. Make a voiced sound. At the same time, pull your tongue back.

Steps

  1. Slightly open your mouth.

  2. Raise the middle of your tongue close to but not touching the roof of your mouth.

  3. Make a voiced sound. At the same time, drop your tongue down.

Katakana Otoshiana

When English words ending with the J sound are written in katakana, a vowel sound is added after them.

 

badge ➡ bajji (バッジ)

revenge ➡ ribenji (リベンジ)

image ➡ imeeji (イメージ)

 

Be careful not to add the vowel sound in English!

Katakana Otoshiana

English words with the Y sound are written in katakana in many different ways.

 

yacht ➡ yotto (ヨット)

thank you ➡ sankyuu (サンキュー)

yes ➡ iesu (イエス)

yellow ➡ ieroo (イエロー)

 

However, in English, the Y sound is always formed the same way, regardless of the vowel that follows it.

WORDS

Practice today’s sounds in the words below.

/dʒ/

jeans

jam

juice

danger

pajamas

July

/j/

yellow

yo-yo

yen

yoga

yawn

yacht

SENTENCES

Practice today’s sounds in the sentences below.

/dʒ/

  1. John spilled juice on his jeans and jacket.
  2. Jerry saw an angel last July.
  3. Jed bought jam and some juice.
  4. Jeff was not a passenger on the jet.
  5. James told Jen a joke.

/j/

  1. Yanna likes yoga.
  2. The yellow yacht will sail to York.
  3. The young man yawned.
  4. Can I buy a yo-yo for 100 yen?
  5. Yes, you can eat yogurt for lunch.

/dʒ/ + /j/

  1. Jed is going to York in July.
  2. Yogurt with jam or jelly is yummy!
  3. James told the yacht club about the dangers of the sea.
  4. Yolanda paid ten thousand yen for the jet ski.
  5. A teenager in yellow pajamas yelled at John.

DIALOGUES

Practice today’s sounds in the dialogues below.

/dʒ/

Student:

Jerry left his luggage on the train.
Tutor:

Oh, no! What does Jerry have in his luggage?
Student:

His school project and some clothes. His jacket, jeans, and pajamas.
Tutor:

I hope Jerry finds his luggage soon. It’s a little cold today.
Student:

Well, Jerry can wear my jacket for now.

/j/

Student:

Yay! Yanna and I are going to the US.
Tutor:

Oh, the US? Cool! When are you leaving?
Student:

Yeah, we’re going to visit Yanna’s dad in York. We’re leaving tomorrow.
Tutor:

Are you also going to visit her brother Yusef?
Student:

Yes, Yanna and I are going to see Yusef too! He lives near Yellowstone.

/dʒ/ + /j/

Student:

Hi. Can I join your yoga class?
Tutor:

Yes. You should talk to Jen. She’s the yoga teacher.
Student:

Is Jen the teenager in a yellow jacket and blue jeans?
Tutor:

Oh yes, that’s her! She looks young, but she just turned thirty in January last year.
Student:

Are you joking? She looks so young! I can’t believe she’s your age!

TRY IT AGAIN!

Reread the sentence below.

A teenager in yellow pajamas yelled at John.