Liquids & glides

How to pronounce /w/ W as in we

wewateraway

How to make it

Round your lips tight, then release straight into the vowel.

Tongue
Back of the tongue lifts
Lips
Tight circle, then release
Voice
Buzzing on

Watch the mouth

Round your lips tight first, then open into the vowel.

Where learners slip

  • Hindi speakersW and V merge — we can land as ve.
  • Russian speakersOften replaced by /v/ — we can land as ve.
  • Turkish speakersOften replaced by /v/ — we can land as ve.
  • German speakersOften replaced by /v/ — we can land as ve.
  • Persian speakersOften replaced by /v/ — we can land as ve.

Say it on real English. See if it lands.

Lang Shadow scores /w/ every time you say it — in Shorts, in role plays and in your own words — and colours it next to the other 40 sounds.