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Core Russian online

Russian Language Essentials

Part 3

Lesson 27

Voiced and voiceless consonants / Звонкие и глухие согласные

In Russian, there are two types of consonants: voiced and voiceless. Some consonants make up voiced-voiceless pairs as shown in the table.

These voiced conconants

have voiceless counterparts

When pronouncing the corresponding voiced and voiceless consonants the speech apparatus works the same way. The difference is made only by voice involvement. With a voiced consonant, the vocal cords are vibrating, while when pronouncing a voiceless consonant, the vocal cords are relaxed and do not vibrate.

—

ба—па

бо—по

бу—пу

бэ—пэ

бы—пы

—

ва—фа

во—фо

ву—фу

вэ—фэ

вы—фы

—

га—ка

го—ко

гу—ку

гэ—кэ

гы—кы

—

да—та

до—то

ду—ту

дэ—тэ

ды—ты

—

жа—ша

жо—шо

жу—шу

жэ—шэ

——

—

за—са

зо—со

зу—су

зэ—сэ

зы—сы

Some consonants do not form voiced-voiceless pairs.

й, л, м, н, р are always voiced
х, ч, щ, ц are always voiceless

It is important to know the distinction of the paired voiced and voiceless consonants since it forms the basis for the consonant assimilation rule.