Whar rule(s) calls for C to be pronounced like K ?

Question

I.E. ConCede. The first C is sounded like a K while the second C is not.

Answer 1

You use a soft C when it is followed by an e. ie coerce, center, etc.

Answer 2

C followed by a consonant is generally always pronounced as K. But when its folowed by a vowel, it may be either pronounced as K or as S. So there is really no rule to it.
English was always an illogical language....

Answer 3

I don't think there is/are any rule(s) so as much as a tendency. When followed by a vowel, "c" can be "soft" (pronounced as "s", "city") or "hard" (pronounced as "k", "cashier"). When followed by a consonant (clerk), I think it is always hard, unless it's a dipthong (ch, church) where the "c" and "h" go together and form a new sound altogether, neither "c-sounding" nor "h-sounding".

Answer 4

Generally, a "c" is pronounced like a "k" when followed by an ",o" "u" or "a". (Canada, candy, canoe, car, can, caper; corridor, condition, cognitive, cooperate, cog, corn, consent; cup, cull, cucumber, current, custody).

It also generally makes a "k" sound when followed by consonants that do NOT make a dipthong (clam, but not church/ cry but not chute.)

Typically, the remaining vowels following "c"-- "e," "i" and "y" create the soft "c" sound (cement, cede, ceremony, celadon; cinder, circus, cider, cinnamon; cytoplasm, cyst, cynic, cyber

Answer 5

I believe it is frequently based on how the original language spelled the word in which you find the letter. I'm not so sure there is a rule.