How to practice the /v/ sound

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Practice the /v/ sound: One of the sounds that a lot of people have problems pronouncing is the /v/ sound.

Here are a few words with the /v/ sound.

  • “love” /lʌv/
  • “have” /hæv/
  • “live” /lɪv/
  • “every” /ˈɛvri/
  • “very” /ˈvɛri/
  • “move” /muːv/
  • “serve” /sɜːrv/
  •  “never” /ˈnɛvər/

Remember that pronunciation is physical and if you are making mistakes with this sound you need to think about what you are doing physically with your lips and teeth.

The most important thing to get this sound right is to put the top teeth on the bottom lip as you voice the sound, like this.

If you don’t do this right it might sound like a /w/.

It is a paired consonant so it is also similar to the /f/ sound. The only difference is /v/ is voiced and /f/ is unvoiced.

To practice the /v/ sound I have prepared a text for you that uses this sound a lot in a variety of words. I will read it out loud for you then you can rewind and read it with me.

To practice the /v/ sound I have prepared a text for you that uses this sound a lot in a variety of words. I will read it out loud for you then you can rewind and read it with me.

Practice the /v/ sound: Reading

Veronica was a vivacious and versatile vocalist who loved to voice her views and visions through her music.

She would often perform at various venues, including taverns and festivals, and her voice would fill the air with vibrant and velvety notes that captivated her audience.

One evening, she arrived at a venue where the atmosphere was vibrant and lively, with people dancing and moving to the beat of the music.

Veronica was thrilled to be part of the energy, and she approached the stage with a confident and vivacious stride.

As she began to sing, her voice resonated throughout the venue, filling the air with a variety of vowel sounds and consonants that formed a unique and vibrant melody.

Her voice was versatile, shifting from high to low notes effortlessly, and her vibrato added a touch of elegance to her performance.

Veronica’s vocal prowess was truly remarkable, and she had a devoted following of fans who admired her versatility and vocal range.

They often referred to her as the “voice of the valley,” as her voice could be heard from miles away, echoing through the mountains and valleys.

Veronica continued to perform for many years, bringing joy and vibrancy to people’s lives with her voice.

She never lost her passion for music and continued to voice her views and visions through her songs, inspiring and uplifting her audience with her velvety and vibrant vocals.

She never lost her passion for music and continued to voice her views and visions through her songs, inspiring and uplifting her audience with her velvety and vibrant vocals.

Practice the /v/ sound: Tongue Twisters.

Now that you are warmed up try these tongue twisters.

  • Vanessa volunteered to visit the village of Valencia.
  • Victor’s very vivid vision of violets was validated.
  • Vera viewed the vast valley from the veranda.
  • Veronica’s velvet vest was variegated with various vibrant colors.
  • Vincent’s violin virtuosity was very valuable at the variety show.
  • Valerie’s voice vibrated violently as she vehemently voiced her views.
  • Vance’s vault was filled with valuable vases and velvet vestments.
  • Vivienne’s vigorous vitality and verve were visible in her vibrant paintings.
  • Vlad’s velvet gloves and vest were vestiges of his vampire ancestry.
  • Victoria’s vibrant vocabulary and versatile voice made her a very valuable voice-over artist.

More help learning English

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Head on over to Patreon.com/LearnEnglish, or you can use the card in the corner or the link in the description. 

There you will find a pdf worksheet for this lesson that you can download and another video to go with the worksheet.

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