Sound Right

/ŋ/ — the NG sound as in sing, thing, think

Main spellings (~100%)

⟨ng⟩ ~70%

Word-finally and before vowels, the /ŋ/ sound is spelled ⟨ng⟩.

sing thing long bring strong wrong young along among setting
No separate G: In most words, ⟨ng⟩ represents a single sound /ŋ/, not /n/ + /g/. Compare: sing /sɪŋ/ (no G sound) vs finger /fɪŋgər/ (with G sound). The G is only pronounced when followed by another syllable with a vowel.

⟨n⟩ ~30%

Before ⟨k⟩, the letter ⟨n⟩ automatically represents /ŋ/ — you never write ⟨ngk⟩.

think thank bank drink link pink sink blank
N before K: Before the /k/ sound, ⟨n⟩ is always pronounced /ŋ/: think /θɪŋk/, bank /bæŋk/, drink /drɪŋk/. This is automatic — English never spells this as ⟨ngk⟩.

Unusual spellings (<1%)

⟨ng⟩ + vowel

In some words, ⟨ng⟩ before a vowel represents /ŋg/ (both sounds).

language angry hungry finger
When G is pronounced: In words like finger, anger, hungry, and longer, the ⟨ng⟩ is followed by a vowel in the next syllable, so you hear both /ŋ/ AND /g/: finger /fɪŋgər/. Compare: singer /sɪŋər/ (no G) vs finger /fɪŋgər/ (with G).

⟨ngue⟩

In words from French, word-final ⟨ngue⟩ represents just /ŋ/.

tongue meringue

/ŋ/ vs /n/

NG vs N: The /ŋ/ sound is made with the back of the tongue against the soft palate (velar), while /n/ is made with the tongue tip against the ridge behind the teeth (alveolar). Compare: sing vs sin, thing vs thin, rang vs ran.