You’re likely familiar with the 24 English consonant sounds and how they function in words. But have you ever noticed the way certain consonants group together?
Enter consonant clusters—essential building blocks of spoken and written English.
These clusters appear in everyday words like "stop," "extra," and "bend." While many languages feature them, their complexity and frequency vary widely, making them a common challenge for learners of the English language. One key aspect of pronouncing consonant clusters correctly is ensuring there’s no gap between sounds—otherwise, the pronunciation may change.
English features initial consonant clusters ("stop"), medial ("extra"), and final clusters ("bend"). They can make words feel like a mouthful and sometimes trip up even advanced and native speakers, yet mastering them is key to clear and fluid speech.
To get situated with the concept of consonant clusters in English, watch this brief introductory video by BoldVoice Coach Ron:
VIDEO
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Let’s break down these tricky sound combinations and explore the ones you’ll encounter most often:
1. BL /bl/ The key to pronouncing this sound is first voicing the voiced bilabial stop /b/ sound by pressing your lips together and releasing air. Next, transition to the L sound immediately.
If there is a gap between both sounds, the “bl” incorrectly comes out as “bal” or “buhl,” which can be confusing. Some examples of words with this cluster include:
Bl ank - /blæŋk/Bl ow - /bloʊ/Obl ige - /əˈblaɪdʒ/ Bl ond - /blɑnd/Obl iterate - /əˈblɪtəˌreɪt/
2. BR /br/ For this sound, the voicing starts with the /b/ and immediately transitions to the /r/ sound. As you release the /b/, allow the tip of your tongue to move slightly back to prepare for the /r/ sound. Examples include:
Br and - /brænd/Br onze - /brɑːnz/Embr ace - /ɛmˈbreɪs/ Abr upt - /əˈbrʌpt/ Celebr ate - /ˈsɛləˌbreɪt/
3. CL /kl/ This is one of our consonant blends most commonly found at the beginning of words. To pronounce it, start by voicing the hard “K” sound by pressing the back of your tongue against the short part of the roof of your mouth.
Then, place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, just behind your upper teeth, as you transition smoothly into the “L” sound.
Cl own - /klaʊn/Cl ap - /klæp/Cl ose - /kloʊz/Ecl ipse - /ɪˈklɪps/ Encl ave - /ˈɛnkleɪv/
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4. CR /kr/ This cluster combines the /k/ sound and the /r/ sound. As is expected, pronunciation starts with /k/ and ends with /r/.
Watch as BoldVoice Coach Eliza walks you through the correct /r/ pronunciation:
VIDEO
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Cr edit - /ˈkrɛdɪt/Cr eam - /kriːm/Recr uit - /rɪˈkruːt/ Incr ease - /ɪnˈkriːs/ Cr y - /kraɪ/
5. CT /kt/ Again, for this cluster, you want to start with a base /k/ sound followed immediately by the /t/ sound.
Examples of words with this sound include:
Act - /ækt/ Fact - /fækt/ React - /riˈækt/ Collect - /kəˈlɛkt/ Inject - /ɪnˈdʒɛkt/ Direct - /dɪˈrɛkt/
6. FL /fl/ This F-L cluster combines both the /f/ fricative sound and the /l/ liquid sound . As you transition to the /l/ sound, move the tip of your tongue up to the alveolar ridge. Lift your tongue and allow your lips to relax and part slightly.
Examples:
Fl oor – /flɔːr/Fl ush – /flʌʃ/Infl ate – /ɪnˈfleɪt/ Shuffl e – /ˈʃʌf.ə l/
7. FR /fr/ The F-R cluster is similar to the F-L cluster, but it can be challenging if you have difficulty distinguishing between the R and L sounds.
Fr y - /fraɪ/Fr ee - /friː/Fr iend - /frɛnd/Affr ont - /əˈfrʌnt/ Fr ame - /freɪm/
8. GL /gl/ For the /g/ sound, the back of your tongue touches the soft part of the roof of your mouth. Then, transition smoothly into the L sound by moving your tongue just behind your upper teeth, without changing the position of your vocal cords.
voiced , you can make the transition smoothly without needing a dramatic change in voicing or airflow.
Examples of words with the GL cluster:
Gl ass - /ɡlæs/Gl obe - /ɡloʊb/Angl ophone - /ˈæŋ.ɡlə.foʊn/ Haggl e- /ˈhæɡ.ə l/
9. GR /gr/ Like the G-L cluster, the G-R cluster begins with the "g" sound but transitions into the "R" sound.
This is one of the common consonant clusters in English, found at different positions in English words. For example:
Gr eat - /ɡreɪt/Gr een - /ɡriːn/Gr ape - /ɡreɪp/Agr ee - /əˈɡriː/ Mangr ove - /ˈmæŋɡroʊv/ or /ˈmæŋˌɡroʊv/
10. NT /nt/ This cluster is a smooth combination of the nasal “N” consonant sound and the crisp “T” consonant sound. It’s a common pairing in English found in the end or middle part of a word.
Here are some examples:
Ant - /ænt/ Rent - /rɛnt/ Hunt er - /ˈhʌn.tɚ/ Ent ry - /ˈɛn.tri/ Ent ire - /ɪnˈtaɪɚ/
11. PL /pl/ The PL cluster begins with the voiceless bilabial plosive /p/ sound pronounced by pressing your lips together and releasing a burst of air. Next, transition into the /l/ sound.
Pl ay - /pleɪ/Pl ease - /pliːz/Pl um - /plʌm/Appl aud - /əˈplɔd/
12. PR /pr/ This is similar to the PL cluster, but be careful not to confuse the consonant blends when speaking English. Here, you smoothly transition into the R sound instead of the /l/.
Pr ess - /prɛs/Pr ice - /praɪs/Pr oof - /pruːf/Appr aisal - /əˈpreɪ.zəl/
13. SK /sk/ To pronounce the SK cluster, start by fully pronouncing the S sound in and then finish with a crisp /k/ sound.
This cluster can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a word, like in the following examples:
Sk y - /skaɪ/Sc ar - /skɑːr/Bask et - /ˈbæskɪt Masc ot - /ˈmæskɑːt/ Mask - /mæsk/
14. SN /sn/ The SN cluster is often straightforward to pronounce because both sounds are produced relatively close together in the mouth, making the transition between them more fluid.
Sn ake - /snækSn ow - /snoʊ/Sn ooze - /snuːz/
15. SP /sp/ If you can pronounce the /p/ sound, the SP cluster won’t worry you very much. Immediately after pronouncing the hissing /s/ sound, transition into the /p/ sound.
Practice repeatedly, and you’ll have the SP cluster down. It can appear in any part of a word, like in the examples:
Sp in - /spɪn/Resp ect - /rɪˈspɛkt/ Hosp ital - /ˈhɑːspɪtl/ Wasp - /wɑːsp/
16. ST /st/ The ST cluster is common in English and it's essential to pronouncing words like native speakers.
Like with other S-clusters, this sound begins with the /s/ sound but ends with the /t/, like in the following examples:
Cast - /kæst/ St art - /stɑrt/Fast er - /ˈfæstər/ Nest - /nɛst/ St orm - /stɔrm/
17. STR /str/ Add the /r/ sound to the ST cluster, and you have the STR cluster.
The STR cluster is a unique three-consonant combination that can be found at the beginning and middle of English words. Some words with this sound include:
Str eet - /strit/Str ong - /strɔŋ/ or /strɑŋ/Astr o - /ˈæstroʊ/ Distr ust - /dɪsˈtrʌst/
18. SPR /spr/ The SPR cluster is similar to the SP cluster but with an added /r/, making it a three-consonant blend.
To master it, take your time with repeatedly saying “spur.” Once you’re comfortable with that, gradually eliminate the “u” in between and use it to create words like:
Spr ing - /sprɪŋ/Spr ay - /spreɪ/Spr out - /spraʊt/
19. SCR /skr/ The SCR cluster is another three-consonant combination.
You’ll find it in words like;
Scr eam - /skriːm/Descr ibe - /dɪsˈkraɪb/ Subscr iber - /səbˈskraɪbər/ Manuscr ipt - /ˈmænjʊˌskrɪpt/
20. SPL /spl/ To pronounce this cluster, begin by voicing the /s/, /p/, and /l/ fluidly with as minimal disruption as possible, without the addition os any vowel sounds.
For example:
Spl ash - /splæʃ/Displ ace - /dɪsˈpleɪs/ Spl it - /splɪt/
21. THR /θr/ This is one of the few English consonant clusters that has the tricky ‘th’ sound imbedded in it.
Usually, /θ/ sounds involve havingthe tongue placed between the teeth or just behind them. Since we’re aiming for the THR cluster, we then smoothly transition into the R sound without a break.
You’ll find this cluster in words like:
Thr ee - /θriː/Thr ill - /θrɪl/Dethr one - /diːˈθroʊn/
22. TR /tr/ This is similar to the THR cluster, but the ‘th’ sound is replaced with the /t/ sound. Unlike the ‘th’ sound, we pronounce ‘t’ by placing your tongue against the roof of the mouth and releasing a burst of air, as a voiceless stop.
Patr ol - /pəˈtroʊl/ Tr iangle - /ˈtraɪæŋɡəl/Countr y - /ˈkʌntri/
Master Consonant Clusters with BoldVoice English has numerous consonant clusters, and they come in various forms that aren’t always easy to pronounce. While there are many, these 22 clusters are the ones you’ll encounter most often in everyday speech and writing.
regular practice is key—especially with targeted exercises like tongue twisters and minimal pairs . The more you practice, the more natural these sounds will feel.
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