Consonants Щ [ɕː] and Ч [tɕ] are always soft, so you’ll never hear the sound [ɨ] after them. Also, whether you see a soft sign Ь after them or not, they sound exactly the same (for more information on the soft sign see lesson 10). Remember it when you listen to the words while reading them!

Watch the video and repeat out loud.

Read, listen to the audio and repeat out loud.

Ч – ча – ача – ач

чай, ключ, ча́шка, речь, чем, печь, перча́тки, ночь, меч, мяч

Щ – ща – аща – ащ

ищи́, защи́та, вещь, борщ, щи, щётка, по́мощь, плащ

Exercise 1

Listen and match the correct sound.