Thinkabara🦍 The G sound: articulation words & activities
Everything you need to practice the G sound /g/: 57 words at the beginning, middle and end of words (each with a picture and audio), blends, phrases, sentences, a short story and printable G articulation worksheets.
How to make the G sound
- Keep the tongue tip down behind the bottom teeth.
- Lift the back of the tongue as for K.
- Turn the voice on: "g-g-g" like a gulping fish.
G words — beginning of the word 16
G words — middle of the word 16
G words — end of the word 16
G words — blends 9
Tap any picture to hear the word (uses your device's built-in voice).
Practice mode and printable G worksheets
Pick a level and position, then open the big-card practice mode or print picture cards, bingo boards, a memory game, a home practice log or a word list.
Phrases
- good dog
- go go go
- big pig
- green frog
- gold gift
- giggling girl
- egg in a bag
- bug on a log
Sentences
- The goat ate the gum.
- Go get the gift!
- The dog digs in the garden.
- A frog sat on a log.
- The tiger has a big egg.
- Gus plays the guitar.
- The pig gives me a hug.
- Grandma has green glasses.
📖 Short story: Gus the Goat Goes to the Garden
Gus the goat wanted to go to the garden. "Can I go too?" asked the pig. "And me?" asked the dog. "And me!" giggled a green frog. So they all went. In the garden they found a big gold gift behind the gate. Gus opened it — it was a bag of grapes! The pig got some, the dog got some, the frog got some, and Gus got some too. Then they all had a big group hug. "Good day!" said Gus.
Read it together slowly. Pause on each G word and let your child say it, or ask who, what and where questions.
About the G sound
G is K's voiced partner: the back of the tongue touches the soft palate, but the voice is on. Put a hand on the throat and feel it buzz.
Children who front K usually front G too ("doe" for go). Work on K and G together, or start with whichever one is easier for the child.
When do children learn it? Most children (about 90%) produce the G sound by around age 3–4, according to a 2020 review of US studies (Crowe & McLeod). Every child is different — see the speech sound development chart.
🎲 Practice games
Gulping fish
Act like fish gulping "g-g-g" at the back of the throat, then say each G word.
Go!
Line up toy cars. The child says a G word, then shouts "GO!" to race a car.
Bingo and memory
Print the bingo boards (each one is different) and the caller cards. Whoever calls a card says the word; players say it again as they cover the square.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Keep sessions short and playful: 5–10 minutes a day beats one long session a week.
- Go step by step: sound alone → syllables → words → phrases → sentences → the story → conversation. If it gets hard, go back one step.
- Model the word correctly instead of correcting ("Yes, a rabbit!").
- Blowing and tongue exercises without speech ("oral-motor exercises") have not been shown to improve speech sounds. Practicing the sound itself is what helps.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should a child say the G sound?
In a 2020 review of US studies (Crowe & McLeod), about 90% of children produced G /g/ by around age 3–4. That is a range, not a deadline — many children master it earlier, and some later. If you are worried, talk to a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).
How do I practice the G sound at home?
Practice for 5–10 minutes a day, a little at a time. Start with whatever level is easy (a single sound, then words, phrases, sentences and the story). Say the word correctly yourself and let your child copy you — don't ask them to "say it right". If your child sees an SLP, follow their plan and practice the words they choose.
Which position should we start with?
Usually the position the child finds easiest. For many sounds that is the beginning of the word, but not always — an SLP will test which words and positions are stimulable (easy to imitate) for your child.
Are these printable articulation worksheets free?
Yes. Every word list, card set, bingo board and home practice log on this page is free to print on US Letter paper, with no sign-up.
More speech sounds
Related pages
All speech therapy activitiesMinimal pairsArticulation card makerHome practice sheets