If you searched voiced and voiceless sounds examples, you want the word pairs, not a series label. Here they are in American English.
A voiced sound turns your voice on. You feel a buzz in your throat. A voiceless sound keeps the voice off. The mouth shape can be the same. The voice is the difference.
If you want the throat test first, start with part 1. If you want why /b/ and /p/ share a mouth shape, see part 2.
Voiced and voiceless pairs (with examples)
Say each pair out loud. Keep the mouth the same. Turn the voice on for the second word.
- /p/ voiceless — /b/ voiced: cup / cub, tap / tab, rope / robe, cap / cab
- /t/ voiceless — /d/ voiced: bat / bad, seat / seed, write / ride, coat / code
- /k/ voiceless — /g/ voiced: rack / rag, back / bag, pick / pig, dock / dog
- /f/ voiceless — /v/ voiced: safe / save, leaf / leave, fan / van, half / have
- /s/ voiceless — /z/ voiced: price / prize, bus / buzz, ice / eyes, niece / knees
- /ch/ voiceless — /j/ voiced: batch / badge, rich / ridge, search / surge
- voiceless th / voiced th: breath / breathe, thank / that, thin / this
The mistake at the end of the word
Most learners do not miss these pairs at the start of a word. They miss them at the end. The mouth is tired. The voice turns off too soon. So cub comes out as cup, and rag comes out as rack.
That one missed buzz can change the word. A coworker hears back when you meant bag. A friend hears price when you meant prize. Listen for the last sound. If the meaning needs a voiced ending, keep the throat on until the word is finished.
How to hear the difference
Put two fingers on your throat. Say sss. No buzz. That is voiceless. Now say zzz. Buzz. That is voiced. Do the same with fff and vvv.
Then move to whole words. Say fan, then van. The lips and teeth do the same work. Only the voice changes.
How to practice
Touch your throat. Say cup. No buzz on the last sound. Now say cub. Keep the buzz through the /b/. Do the same with rack and rag, then price and prize.
Read this line slowly: “I put the cub in the bag and the rag on the robe.” If any last sound goes quiet, say that word again.
One more line: “The dog got the prize, not the price.” Hold the voiced ending on dog and prize.
If you want daily practice with a coach, start here: https://pronunciationpro.com/trial/.
