When a word ends in DGE, it often sounds like which letter?

When a word ends in DGE, it commonly produces the sound of the letter "j." This phonetic rule applies to many words, such as "badge," "bridge," and "hedge." The combination of the letters DGE is specifically designed to create that soft "j" sound, effectively influencing the way the word is pronounced in English.

The reason the other sounds do not fit is that "g" typically has a hard sound, as in "go," while "d" again maintains its distinct sound. The sound "k" is also very different and isn't produced in words ending with DGE. Thus, recognizing that DGE correlates with the "j" sound helps in understanding the broader rule governing the pronunciation of similar constructions in the English language.