Final consonant deletion

Written By Mary Kolari

Why Does My Toddler Say “Duh” Instead of “Duck”?

Does your toddler say “uh” for up or “duh” for duck? You’re not alone! This speech pattern is called final consonant deletion, and it’s one of the most common speech processes in early development.

So... What Is Final Consonant Deletion?

Final consonant deletion is when a child leaves off the ending sound of a word. So instead of “cup,” they might say “cuh.” Instead of “dog,” you hear “dah.” It’s like the word just... drops off a cliff!

The good news? This is completely typical up until around age 2 to 3 years old. Most children naturally outgrow it as their speech matures.

But here's the catch: When final sounds are missing, it can make your child really hard to understand, even if they’re saying a lot of words.

That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on it and know when to seek extra support.

How Well Should Strangers Understand My Child?

A great rule of thumb:

  • By age 2, unfamiliar listeners should understand about 50% of what your child says.

  • By age 3, that jumps to around 75%.

If your child is hard to understand and missing final sounds past age 3, it might be a sign they need a little extra support, and that’s where speech therapy (and YOU!) come in.

Try This at Home: Easy Tips to Help Final Sounds Stick

You don’t need flashcards or fancy tools, just a few strategies and a little intention:

  • Model CVC (consonant vowel consonant) or VC (vowel consonant) words
    Use simple words like dog, cup, up, eat, out, pop. Say them slowly and clearly, emphasizing that ending sound. “cuP!” or “eaT!”.

  • Point to your mouth
    Gently draw your child’s attention to your lips or chin when you say final sounds. No pressure for your child to repeat at that moment, just building awareness!

  • Repeat, repeat, repeat
    Children learn best through repetition. You can model a target word 5-10 times during play without asking your child to repeat it back. The goal is to model, allow time for your child to process, and use the sounds when they are ready!

  • Don't force imitation
    If your child wants to try it, awesome! If not, that’s okay too. Just keep modeling and keep it playful.

When to Seek Extra Help

If your child is over 3 and still regularly drops final sounds (especially in words like cat, bed, fish, eat, up), or if you find yourself often interpreting for them, it might be time for a speech-language evaluation.

It’s never too early to get support and you don’t need to wait for them to “grow out of it” if it’s causing frustration.

Mary Kolari