blank · plank · flank · black
blank /blæŋk/ · plank /blæŋk/ · flank /flæŋk/ · black /blæk/ — all use the short /æ/ vowel. The key contrast: blank, plank, and flank end in /ŋk/ (nasal + stop), while black ends in just /k/.
/blæŋk/
blank · plank · flank
ends -ŋk (nasal)
/plæŋk/
same family
ends -ŋk (nasal)
/flæŋk/
same family
ends -ŋk (nasal)
/blæk/
black
ends -k only (no nasal)
adjective or noun — empty, with nothing written — 'a blank page' · 'blank stare' · 'go blank' · 'fill in the blank'
mouth shape
short /æ/ + nasal /ŋ/ + stop /k/ — mouth wide open for /æ/, tongue rises to soft palate for /ŋ/ before the final /k/
blank
/blæŋk/
vowel length
noun — a long flat piece of wood — 'a wooden plank' · 'walk the plank' · also: a core exercise position
mouth shape
same /æŋk/ ending as blank — short /æ/, nasal /ŋ/, final /k/ — the /pl/ onset is a consonant cluster
plank
/plæŋk/
vowel length
noun — the side of something — 'flank steak' · 'the enemy's flank' · verb: 'flanked by guards on both sides'
mouth shape
same /æŋk/ ending — short /æ/, nasal /ŋ/, final /k/ — the /fl/ onset requires a liquid consonant
flank
/flæŋk/
vowel length
adjective — the darkest colour, absorbing all light — 'black cat' · 'black coffee' · 'black hole' · 'pitch black'
mouth shape
short /æ/ + final /k/ ONLY — no nasal /ŋ/! Tongue does NOT touch the soft palate before the /k/ — shorter ending than blank/plank/flank
black
/blæk/
vowel length
Final consonant cluster spotlight
blank · plank · flank
_læŋk
short /æ/ + nasal /ŋ/ + stop /k/
feel your tongue touch the soft palate for /ŋ/
black
blæk
short /æ/ + stop /k/ only
no nasal /ŋ/ before the /k/
Key difference
All four words share the same short /æ/vowel (like “cat”). The difference is the final cluster: blank, plank, flank end in /ŋk/ — you must raise the back of your tongue to make the nasal /ŋ/ before the /k/.black ends in just /k/ — no nasal at all, a slightly shorter ending.
Example sentences
blank:“Leave a blank line between paragraphs.”
plank:“The old bridge is made of wooden planks.”
flank:“The soldiers attacked the enemy’s flank.”
black:“She wore a black dress to the event.”
Hear it in a sentence
“She stared at the blank page for ten minutes before writing the first word.”
“He balanced carefully on the narrow plank above the trench.”
“The scouts approached from the flank while the main unit held its position.”
“The stray cat had a single black paw among otherwise white fur.”
Hear it in the wild
Real speech from native speakers — the most reliable way to check a pronunciation, since automated audio can vary by device and browser.
blank
Hear native speakers say “blank” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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plank
Hear native speakers say “plank” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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flank
Hear native speakers say “flank” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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black
Hear native speakers say “black” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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How teachers explain this
Approved tips from the community, sorted by helpfulness
Word families
blank family ▸
plank / flank / black families ▸
Related pairs
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