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Pronunciation

How to pronounce ę — nasal “e”

ę is a nasal “e”. At the start and in the middle of a word it’s clear. At the end it almost dissolves, but it doesn’t disappear: dziękuję ≠ dziękuje.

ę

Typical mistake

The ear wants a plain vowel or a final “e”. In dziękuję you get “dzenkuje” with no nasality — and that’s already a different form.

How to make the sound

  1. 01Say “e”, but send some air through the nose — as with a light cold.
  2. 02At the end of a word the sound is shorter, but the nasal colour remains.
  3. 03Practice the pair: dziękuję / dziękuje — different meaning and different sound.

Practice words

  • dziękuję

    thank you

  • będę

    I will be

  • mięso

    meat

  • zęby

    teeth

Questions

Do I need to pronounce ę at the end of a word?
Yes, but briefly. A full nasal at the end sounds unnatural; dropping it completely is also wrong. Aim for a short nasal “e”.

See also

Next — topical phrases: Phrases

Check ę out loud

Record a phrase with this sound — the AI teacher will tell you if you landed it.

Open Practice
How to pronounce ę — nasal “e” | MiAcento