Every once in a while, I get a question about the P sound sounding like a B.

For example, people have asked about the words: spoon, rapport, and pepper.

And I know that some teachers teach that these Ps should be a B.

I disagree with that.

Let's talk about why.

The thing is, it's not about this sound being a P or B.

It's about the sound being very light.

If you make the P light, it sounds great.

If you make the B light, it sounds almost the same.

Also good.

But if you make the B sound heavy: sboon-- it doesn't sound so good anymore.

Sboon.

So it's not about changing the P to a B.

It's about knowing how to make a light P.

If someone makes the P sound by itself, it sounds like this.

Pphh--- phh--- phh---

It's over exaggerated. In a word, that's not how we actually do it.

So if people think that 'Pphh--' is the P sound, then ‘spoon’ would be: spoon.

And that's not how we pronounce that word.

It's not: spoon— spoon—

It's also not: sboon— sboon—

The right sound is: spoon— spoon— a light P that releases directly into the vowel.

So how do we get this light P?

We need to change the idea. P is not pphh---

P is p- p- p- p- much lighter a much smaller release.

Spoon. Poon— poon— spoon— spoon—

We go right from the release into the vowel without pphh-- hh-- hh-- all of this extra air.

Spoon— spoon—

pe— pepper— pepper—

A light feeling in the P, not too much air: pphh--

Right now, try this out loud with me:

sp-- sp-- spoon— spoon—

Let's do some more words.

Pe— per— pepper— pepper—

Are you practicing out loud? Please do.

Pepper— pepper—

Awww. My dog growing up was named Pepper.

This is a picture of me and Pepper.

P- p- Port— port—

report— report—

Pam— sp— spam—

Spam—

Sp-- spam—

Span-- sp--

speed—

speed—

pen—

spin—

spin—

pace—

space—

space—

Sp-- pell—

spell—

spell—

So don't try to change the P sound to a B.

Just make sure you're making it a light sound and you'll sound great.

If you're not sure about the sounds of American English,

check out this playlist here.

I've made a video for each sound.