How to Pronounce a Glottal Stop

A glottal stop is a speech sound that occurs when the vocal cords come together briefly, blocking the flow of air through the throat. This results in a momentary pause in sound, which you can feel if you strain or lift something heavy. It’s similar to the sensation of holding your breath for a moment, creating a subtle interruption in the airflow. The phonetic symbol for the glottal stop is /ʔ/. An easy way to understand the glottal stop is by considering the common expression "uh-oh." In this expression, there’s a brief air blockage in the throat between the "uh" and the "oh" sounds. This sudden blockage is a glottal stop. Rule 1: Glottal Stop in Words Ending with "t," "d," or "k" When words end in the sounds /t/, /d/, or /k/, the glottal stop is often used, especially in informal speech. Here are some examples: Examples: Fight [faɪʔ], Kite [kaɪʔ], Good [ɡʊʔ], Night [naɪʔ], Pick [pɪʔ], Drink [drɪʔ], Pete [piːʔ], Meet [miː…