/b/

The /b/ sound in English is a voiced bilabial plosive, which is just a fancy way of saying that it’s a sound made with both lips and with the vocal cords vibrating. Here’s how you pronounce it:

• Position your lips: The /b/ sound is bilabial, meaning that it’s made by bringing both your lips together. Your upper and lower lips should close, blocking the air from escaping your mouth.
• Voicing: The /b/ sound is a voiced consonant, meaning that your vocal cords vibrate when you produce this sound. You can feel this vibration if you lightly touch the front of your throat while saying the sound.
• Release the sound: Start by building up a little bit of pressure behind your lips by pushing air out from your lungs (don’t let the air escape just yet). Then, release your lips quickly. The air should burst out, producing the /b/ sound.