Cat on the mat

Childrens words

Click the pictures and listen

Apple

Cat

Bag

How to make this sound

is a short vowel. To make the sound the mouth is open. The lips are tighter and pulled back a little more than for . The lips are lateralised (pulled as in a smile position),slightly. The tongue tip is slightly raised and the rest of the tongue is held flattish but slightly off the bottom of the mouth. The tip touches in the middle of the bottom teeth inside the mouth. The voice is switched on, and the sound is 'resonated' at the back of the mouth.

Example words using 'a'

cat flat mat

Example words using other letters

plait (hair), bag, Can, black, Happy, sack, Saturday, thank, Have, man, Anchor, answer, Apple, handsome, Had, plan, Am, pack, pan and Land