English allows for consonant sequences at the beginning of words, which poses a challenge for speakers of other languages, especially those whose native languages do not contain such sequences, such as Arabic. Therefore, this study aims to investigate students’ recognition and production of initial consecutive consonants in relation to gender, and the significance of the statistical differences between students in recognition and pronunciation of consecutive consonants. Consequently, a cohort of fifty-two Iraqi college students (18 males and 34 females) were selected as a sample. A multiple-choice test of two phases was used as a research instrument. The results showed that females outperformed males in recognizing and producing consonant sequences. Notably, the findings revealed that students' performance in recognizing initial consonant sequences was significantly higher than their performance in producing. In addition, the results indicate statistically significant differences in favor of females in both recognition and pronunciation. The study's findings highlight the importance of focusing on both recognition and production in educational contexts and developing teaching strategies that support both skills. Finally, the research reveals how students' linguistic background, such as the absence of initial consonant sequences in Arabic, can impact their performance in English