Learning English Vocabulary Pronouncing words that start with ‘c’
Jan 26, 2026
They explore how the letter C can sound like /s/ in words starting with CE, CI and CY. A personal circus story supplies many lively examples. Short quizzes and a tongue-twister test listening and spotting C words. A memorization tip suggests creating long, playful sentences to learn groups of vocabulary.
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Childhood In The Family Circus
- Maria describes joining her family's circus at nine and practising instead of typical teen activities.
- She celebrated her 16th birthday by learning to ride a very small cycle and shared childhood performance details.
C Before I/E/Y Sounds Like S
- Words beginning with C-I, C-E or C-Y are usually pronounced with an /s/ sound in English.
- This explains why cinema, cigarette and cycle use an /s/ despite starting with the letter C.
Contrast Between /k/ And /s/ With C
- Many C-starting words are pronounced with a /k/ sound, but the following letter determines the common shift to /s/.
- The hosts contrast examples like cake and cinema to illustrate the pattern.