Differences between reading c as k and c as c

Suha_Khair · March 29, 2009, 11:33am

hi
this is me Suha Mohammed Khair i want to know how can the differences between reading c as k and c as c . for example when we read car the c sounds as k .
I hope you can understand what I mean .
thanks

Kitosdad · March 29, 2009, 2:43pm

Hi Suha Khair, most English " c " words are pronounced as " k ", you are correct.
Very few are sounded as " c ".

Suha_Khair · March 29, 2009, 3:17pm

thank you sir I am so happy that you reply

Kitosdad · March 29, 2009, 3:29pm

You are most welcome, as are your questions. I am very happy to note your interest in our language.

Elect007 · March 30, 2009, 8:43am

precise, censor, celsius, center,centre, centralize, centralization, ceremony, certificate, chevron may be read as “S” , while

computer,community, communicate, communication, cobra, charisma,commando, rambo(ups…different thing i guess) read as “K”

challenge, change, charge,charity, chat, check, cheer, chess, chemical may be different way from above.

Kitosdad · March 30, 2009, 10:41am

Nearly all words starting with “ch” are pronounced as ch, as in cha-cha-cha , but without the " a ". ch-ch-ch.

Hope that isn’t confusing.

Chemical is with a K.
Precise & rambo & chevron should not be on the list of " s " words.

Recording :-

C words that are pronounced " S ".

Ch words pronounced as “ch”

C words pronounced with a " K "

Suha_Khair · March 30, 2009, 12:29pm

thanks a lot

you are amazing team
suha mohammed khair

Milanya · March 30, 2009, 1:12pm

The rule is: The letter c represents /s/ before the letters e, i or y; otherwise it represents /k/.
Here are some examples to show you how broadly useful this rule actually is.

cent: /s/ because it is followed by e
city: /s/ because it is followed by i
cyst: /s/ because it is followed by y
cat: /k/ because it is not followed by e, i or y
cot: /k/ because it is not followed by e, i or y
cut: /k/ because it is not followed by e, i or y
class: /k/ because it is not followed by e, i or y
cross: /k/ because it is not followed by e, i or y
back: /k/ because it is not followed by e, i or y (so the ck acts like kk)
scent: /s/ because it is followed by e (so the sc acts like ss)
since: digraph ce is /s/ because the c is followed by e
accuse: both /k/ because neither is followed by e, i or y (akkuse)
accent: first is /k/ but second is /s/ (ak-sent)
static: /k/ because it is not followed by e, i or y

This is English, so there are some exceptions. In the United States, they are relatively few. Soccer would be pronounced sokser if it followed the rule and muscle would be muskle. And in British English, you will encounter many words like sceptic where we in the US have changed the spelling to skeptic to comport with the rule.

Also, to follow the rule we even add the letter k to words like picnic and panic when adding a suffix starting with e, i or y, so we have picnicking, panicked and panicky.

Suha_Khair · March 30, 2009, 1:18pm

thanks Milanya
can we be friends ???
cause I like to make friends from other cultures
yours
suha khair

Milanya · March 30, 2009, 1:22pm

Sure. Why not?

I like making friends.

Suha_Khair · April 1, 2009, 8:18am

hello there
it is me again

Chaaki · April 1, 2009, 10:08am

Hi Suha, the matter is very simple: the " c " followed by " e, i , y" pronounced as " s " but if it is followed by any other letter it is pronounced as" k " except " ch " .

Suha_Khair · April 4, 2009, 11:27am

hey there
thanks a lot chaaki
even me i am a new member and i like this forum so much so thanks agani
um Ahmed w Reem

Chaaki · April 4, 2009, 1:19pm

It is veru good of you to try to improve your accent because English now is the most universal language and all of us need to be fluent in it so as to cope with the fast path of our communities. Give my regards to Ahmed and Reem.

Chaaki · April 4, 2009, 1:21pm

hi
I also like to make friends and I like also to make use of my time on the internet so I wish we can communicate.

Suha_Khair · April 4, 2009, 4:17pm

thanks
for sure we can communicate via this forum . it is my pleasure
send my sallam to your family
suha khair

Koka · April 5, 2009, 8:23pm

hey guys!!! where all of u from just interstring!!! thnx in advance

Koka · April 5, 2009, 8:32pm

hi there!!! 2day is my 1st day here! so this forum is awesome, bril!! it helps me i mean us to communicate with other people and of course to master our english!!!

Suha_Khair · April 5, 2009, 9:05pm

Hi Koka
welcome to the real english learning world . i am suha from SUDAN
what about you tell us about your self
yours
Um Ahmed &Reem

Suha_Khair · April 5, 2009, 9:12pm

Alsalam Alaikom w rahmah allah w brakatoh
thank you again Chacki for your explanations and i am very happy to be part of this wonderful forum .
Allah bless you
yours
Um Ahmed & Reem