These are the symbols you will see in a dictionary. Click any one to hear it. You do not need to memorize them.

Why this mattersA hum, not a hard g

English ng is one single sound, and in most words there is no g after it. Sing, long, thing, running, morning all end on a hum, not on a hard g.

Adding a g inserts a consonant that is not there. It is a small thing, and it is heard on every -ing word you say, which is a lot of them.

What your language doesSometimes there really is a g

If your language does not allow a nasal at the end of a syllable without releasing it, you will add a g. Singing becomes sing-ging, long becomes long-g. This is common in Italian and in several other languages.

The confusing part is that English sometimes does have a real g there: finger, longer, stronger, hunger, England. So you cannot simply decide never to say g. You have to learn where it belongs.

How to make itA hum that dissolves

Stop the sound at the back of your tongue and let it fade. Do not release anything. The picture: ng is a hum that dissolves. Adding a g is like tapping a bell after it has already rung.

The best training tool is the pair singer and finger. Singer has no g. Finger has a real one. Say them back to back until you can feel the difference in your tongue rather than just hear it.

Minimal pairsThe two words, side by side

Play each pair deliberately and feel the one difference. This is where the sound stops being abstract.

Say itWord banks

No g

G present

In a sentencePut it under pressure

Record and compareSee the shape of your voice

Pick anything above, then record yourself saying it. Your recording appears in red over the model in gray. You are comparing shapes, not chasing a score.