/k/ as in "cat"

/k/ is a voiceless velar stop of General American English, as in "cat" and "cup." To produce it, back of tongue against soft palate. Phoneme provides native-speaker audio and minimal-pair contrasts so learners can hear and practice this consonant.

How to make /k/

voiceless velar stop — back of tongue against soft palate.

Sounds that learners confuse with /k/

• /k/ vs /g/ — /g/ as in "goat"

Minimal pairs for /k/

/k/ vs /g/

/k/	/g/
coat	goat
back	bag
cap	gap
cut	gut
come	gum
caught	got
pick	pig
lock	log