How do you pronounce sixth?

Answer 1

Oh, I imagine this one is hard for people who are learning English. When we talk, we use our vocal chords. "Of course" you say. "What's new?" What's new is that when we talk, sometimes we DON'T use our vocal chords. This is true for any language I've ever heard of. Say the letters b, d, k, and p. When you say b and d, you must use your vocal chords in order to do it. When you say k and p, don't say the whole letter name 'kay' and 'pee'. Stop after the k and after the p. Think of the k sound at the end of the word cake. You don't use your vocal chords. Something fun happens when you try to say letters like k p and t with and without your vocal chords. Try it and you will see. With the word sixth, you are called upon to pronounce 3 consonant sounds in a row with no vocal chords. This would be very strange to people who speak languages where this rarely or never happens. This would be a rare or non-existent thing in Spanish. In Germanic languages, it's practically constant. So you say the "si" like the beginning of the word SImple. Then, with no vocal chords, K-S-TH. That's it.