Intervocalic g /ɣ/

/ɡ / ɣ/

Accent-Specific Coaching

For American Speakers

After a pause or nasal, use hard /ɡ/ like 'go' — gato, tengo. Between vowels, soften it into a fricative /ɣ/ — tongue approaches the soft palate without fully closing, letting air squeeze through. Say 'ago' very lazily and that weak g is close to /ɣ/. This is called 'lenition' and happens in most Spanish dialects. You don't need to learn a new sound — you just need to learn when to weaken the one you already have.

For British Speakers

Hard g initially or after nasals (gato, tengo). Between vowels, soften to /ɣ/ by letting air pass through without full closure. Think of a lazy version of g — the tongue approaches but never fully touches the soft palate. This contrast between hard g and soft /ɣ/ follows a simple rule: after a pause or nasal = hard, between vowels = soft.

For Australian / NZ Speakers

Hard g after pauses and nasals (gato, tengo). Between vowels, weaken it to /ɣ/ — don't close the gap fully, let air squeeze through. Australian English already weakens certain consonants in casual speech; apply the same principle. Say 'ago' lazily and loosen the g until air hisses through.

For Irish Speakers

Some Irish dialects naturally soften g between vowels, which is a direct head start. Irish Gaelic has the fricative /ɣ/ (written 'gh') — if you speak any Gaelic, use that sound directly between vowels. After pauses or nasals, use a firm hard g.

For Scottish Speakers

Scottish Gaelic has /ɣ/ (spelled 'gh' in Gaelic). If you know any Gaelic, the fricative variant transfers directly. Otherwise, start with the hard g and practise weakening it between vowels — keep the tongue close to the soft palate but don't let it touch. After pauses and nasals, use normal hard g.

For Indian Speakers

Hindi ग gives you the hard g — use it after pauses and nasals (gato, tengo). Between vowels, you need to loosen the closure so air passes through without the tongue fully touching the soft palate. The sound is like a very weak, lazy g. Many Indian languages don't have this lenition pattern, so practise the contrast: hard g vs. lazy g.

For South African Speakers

Hard g after pauses and nasals, soft /ɣ/ between vowels. Afrikaans has velar fricatives (the 'g' in 'goed'), which gives a direct bridge if you speak any Afrikaans. If not, practise saying g very lazily between vowels — don't let the tongue fully close against the palate.

For Nigerian / W. African Speakers

Hard g after pauses and nasals (gato, tengo). Between vowels, practise weakening g — let air pass through without full closure. Your hard g is correct for the strong position; the new skill is learning to soften it between vowels. Yoruba and Igbo don't have this lenition pattern, so it needs conscious practice.