12. Devoicing of Consonants at the End of the Words
Most consonants in Russian form pairs based on the voiced/voiceless distinction, meaning each voiced consonant has a corresponding voiceless counterpart:
Voiced – Voiceless
б [b] – п [p]
в [v] – ф [f]
г [ɡ] – к [k]
д [d] – т [t]
ж [ʐ] – ш [ʂ]
з [z] – с [s]
In Russian pronunciation, all voiced consonants at the end of a word are pronounced as their voiceless counterparts.
For example:
• г → pronounced as [к] (снег → [снʲэк])
• б → pronounced as [п] (хлеб → [хлʲэп])
• д → pronounced as [т] (год → [гот])
• в → pronounced as [ф] (кровь → [крофʲ])
Although the spelling retains the voiced consonant, pronunciation follows this devoicing rule.
Watch the video, listen and repeat out loud.
The same rule applies in the middle of a word if a voiced consonant is followed by a voiceless one.
For example:
• б → pronounced as [п] (пробка → [пропка])
• в → pronounced as [ф] (автобус → [афтобус]), (остановка → [астанофка])
• д → pronounced as [т] (лодка → [лотка])
Voiced consonants lose their voicing before voiceless ones and are pronounced as their voiceless counterparts.
