How to Pronounce the Difference Between V and W Sounds

TL;DR

To pronounce 'V' and 'W' correctly, make the 'V' sound by placing your upper front teeth on your lower lip to create 'vuh', while the 'W' sound requires puckering your lips to say 'wuah'. Practice contrasts between pairs like 'visor' and 'wiser' or 'veil' and 'whale' to master the distinction.

Transcript

Hello. Welcome to www.engvid.com -- not "EngWid". Today, I'm going to teach you the difference in pronunciation between a "V" and a "W". That's "U" times two. In some parts of America -- I don't know which parts, which states -- I know people say "double yah". We don't actually say "double yah" in Canada; it's "double U" versus the "V". Now, this g... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔇 The "V" sound is produced by sticking out the front teeth and creating a "vuh" sound.
• 👂 The "W" sound is made by puckering the lips and creating a "wuah" sound.
• 🥰 Many languages, including Chinese, Farsi, and Arabic, struggle with pronouncing the "V" and "W" sounds.
• 👰 The "V" and "W" sounds are contrasted with various words, such as "visor" and "wiser", "veil" and "whale", "vest" and "west", and "viper" and "wiper".
• 💘 The middle "V" and "W" sounds in words like "rowing" and "roving" require careful pronunciation.
• 💗 "Grew" is the past tense of "grow", and "groove" means "to dance".

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the differences in pronunciation between the "V" and "W" sounds?

The "V" sound is made by sticking out the front teeth and creating a "vuh" sound, while the "W" sound is made by puckering the lips and creating a "wuah" sound.

Q: Are there any languages that have difficulty with pronouncing the "V" and "W" sounds?

Yes, languages such as Chinese, Farsi, Arabic, German, Polish, Slovak, Czech, Slovenian, Russian, and Ukrainian commonly struggle with pronouncing the "V" and "W" sounds.

Q: What is the word for the top part of a baseball cap that keeps the sun out of your eyes?

The word for the top part of a baseball cap is "visor."

Q: Can you explain the difference between the words "veil" and "vest"?

"Veil" refers to a face covering worn at weddings, while "vest" is an article of clothing typically worn by men as part of a three-piece suit.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video teaches the difference in pronunciation between the "V" and "W" sounds.

• The "V" sound is made by sticking out the front teeth and creating a "vuh" sound.

• The "W" sound is made by puckering the lips to create a "wuah" sound.