Consonants that swap places in the mouth

1. 1
   ask/æsk/

   verb

   To put a question to someone so you can find something out.
2. 2
   asterisk/ˈæstərɪsk/

   noun

   The small star-shaped mark * used in writing.
3. 3
   prescription/prəˈskrɪpʃən/

   noun

   A medicine you can only get with a written order from a doctor.
4. 4
   library/ˈlaɪbreˌriː/

   noun

   A building full of books you can read there or borrow.
5. 5
   jewelry/ˈdʒuːəlri/iAlso said ˈdʒuːlri or ˈdʒuːləri.

   noun

   Rings, necklaces and other ornaments made of precious metal and stones.
6. 6
   nuclear/ˈnuːkliər/

   adjective

   Getting huge destructive power from energy released inside atoms.
7. 7
   relevant/ˈreləvənt/

   adjective

   Connected to the thing being talked about.
8. 8
   especially/əˈspeʃli/iAlso said əˈspeʃəli.

   adverb

   More than usual, or more than the others.
9. 9
   perform/pərˈfɔːrm/

   verb

   To sing, act or play in front of an audience.
10. 10
    introduce/ˌɪntrəˈduːs/iAlso said ˌɪntroʊˈduːs.

    verb

    To bring two people together and tell each of them the other's name.

The sentences

1. Can I ask you something about the plan?

2. The asterisk means the price includes tax.

3. I need to pick up my prescription today.

4. The library closes early, so let's go now.

5. She keeps her jewelry in a small wooden box.

6. They're building a nuclear plant near the coast.

7. That part isn't really relevant to the story.

8. The traffic gets bad, especially in the morning.

9. The band will perform again later tonight.

10. Could you introduce me to your friend?

Pronunciation

• ask/æsk/

  The s comes before the k: /æsk/, not "aks".

• asterisk/ˈæstərɪsk/

  It ends -risk. The k is last, not "asteriks".

• prescription/prəˈskrɪpʃən/

  Starts pre-, with the r right after the p, not "per-".

• library/ˈlaɪbreˌriː/

  Two r sounds: LY-brer-ee, not "liberry".

• jewelry/ˈdʒuːəlri/

  The l lands before the r: JOO-uhl-ree.

• nuclear/ˈnuːkliər/

  NOO-klee-er, with the l straight after the k.

• relevant/ˈreləvənt/

  REL-uh-vunt: l in the first syllable, v in the middle.

• especially/əˈspeʃli/

  No k sound at the front, and it runs to three beats: uh-SPESH-lee.

• perform/pərˈfɔːrm/

  per- first, stress on the second half: per-FORM, not "pre-form".

• introduce/ˌɪntrəˈduːs/

  The r rides with the t: in-truh-DOOS, not "inter-".

Questions

What do I say if I want to ask someone something?

You can say 'Can I ask you something about the plan?'

What does especially mean?

It means more than usual, or more than the others.