The /ŋ/ Sound: Sing, Singer, Working
One sound, no /k/ and usually no /ɡ/: how to say -ng and -ing correctly.
The letters ng usually stand for one single sound, /ŋ/. Many learners add a /k/ („workink“) or a /ɡ/ („sing-g“). Learn how to make the sound, and when you do hear a /ɡ/.
How to Make /ŋ/
/ŋ/ is a nasal sound, like /m/ and /n/, but made at the back of the mouth.
1Mouth position
- Raise the back of your tongue to touch the soft palate, the same position as for /k/ or /ɡ/.
- Keep it there. Don't release it.
- Let the air go out through your nose and use your voice.
- End the word with the tongue still in place: sing /sɪŋ/, not /sɪŋk/ or /sɪŋɡ/.
Test: Hold your nose and say sing. If the sound stops, you are making /ŋ/ correctly: the air needs to go through your nose.
2/n/ or /ŋ/?
| /n/ | /ŋ/ | /n/ | /ŋ/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| sin | sing | ran | rang |
| thin | thing | ton | tongue |
| win | wing | kin | king |
| ban | bang | run | rung |
When Do You Hear /ɡ/ or /k/?
The spelling ng can sound like /ŋ/ or /ŋɡ/. The spelling nk is always /ŋk/.
1At the end of a word: only /ŋ/
- sing /sɪŋ/
- long /lɒŋ/
- thing /θɪŋ/
- young /jʌŋ/
- morning /ˈmɔːnɪŋ/
- working /ˈwɜːkɪŋ/
2In the middle of a word
| Rule | Sound | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| verb + -er / -ing | /ŋ/, no /ɡ/ | singer /ˈsɪŋə/, singing, hanger, bringing |
| other words with ng | /ŋɡ/ | finger /ˈfɪŋɡə/, English /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/, hungry, angry, language |
| long, strong, young + -er/-est | /ŋɡ/ | longer /ˈlɒŋɡə/, stronger, youngest |
3nk and n + k/g
nk is /ŋk/: think, bank, thank, drink. And an n before /k/ or /ɡ/ often becomes /ŋ/: uncle /ˈʌŋkl/, anchor /ˈæŋkə/, congress /ˈkɒŋɡres/.
| /ŋ/ | /ŋk/ |
|---|---|
| sing | sink |
| thing | think |
| wing | wink |
| rang | rank |
| bang | bank |
The -ing Ending
-ing is one of the most frequent endings in English, so it is worth getting right.
1Standard pronunciation
The ending is /ɪŋ/: working /ˈwɜːkɪŋ/, meeting /ˈmiːtɪŋ/, everything /ˈevriθɪŋ/. Add nothing after the /ŋ/.
2What you may hear
| Version | Example | Where |
|---|---|---|
| /ɪn/ | workin' | relaxed, informal speech in many accents |
| /ɪŋɡ/ | sing-g | some regional accents, e.g. north-west England |
| /ɪŋk/ | workink | a typical learner error: avoid it |
3Tip for German speakers
Tip: German already has /ŋ/ in Ding, lang, singen, and it is exactly the same sound. Say working like the end of German Ding. The „-ink“ comes from German final devoicing; there's no /ɡ/ or /k/ to devoice.
Practice Sentences
Read each sentence and listen for /ŋ/, /ŋɡ/ and /ŋk/.
- The singer is singing a long song in English.
- I think the king is bringing something.
- We're working all morning and meeting in the evening.
- My finger is longer and stronger than yours.
- Thank you for thinking of me and ringing the bank.
Check Yourself
Decide, then open the answer.
-
How many sounds does ng have in sing?
Show answer
One: /ŋ/. sing is /sɪŋ/.
-
singer: /ŋ/ or /ŋɡ/?
Show answer
/ŋ/: /ˈsɪŋə/. It is sing + -er.
-
finger: /ŋ/ or /ŋɡ/?
Show answer
/ŋɡ/: /ˈfɪŋɡə/. It is not made from a verb.
-
longer: /ŋ/ or /ŋɡ/?
Show answer
/ŋɡ/: /ˈlɒŋɡə/. Comparatives of long, strong and young have /ɡ/.
-
What is the last sound in think?
Show answer
/k/: think is /θɪŋk/.
-
Is „workink“ correct?
Show answer
No. Say /ˈwɜːkɪŋ/, with nothing after /ŋ/.
Keep Practising
Related pages in the Pronunciation Studio.
One Sound, Nothing After It
Close the back of your tongue, let the sound go through your nose, and stop. That is all /ŋ/ needs.
Sing, not sink. Working, not workink.
Pronunciation Studio Book a lesson