4. The Final a

Cantonese SoundIPASimilar English Sound
Final a[ɐ]a as in about

The final a is formed by the vowel a alone. Note that the final a only appears in very few words.

Step 1  Listen to the final a.

a

Step 2  Listen and repeat. Pay attention to your mouth shape. Use a mirror to check it if needed.

a

Tongue Position: Open your mouth a little by lowering your lower jaw a little. Lower the front of your tongue a little.
Lip Shape: Relax your lips. Avoid rounding or spreading them.

Practice  Practice saying the syllables with the final a. Listen and repeat.

  1. g ‒ a ‒ ga3
  2. z ‒ a ‒ za3