About this lesson
V and W are easy to mix up because many languages use one sound for both. In English they use different mouth shapes. For V, your upper teeth touch your lower lip lightly and the air squeezes through. For W, your lips round and nothing touches your teeth, and the sound glides into the next vowel.
The teachers in this mix make an important point: both sounds are voiced, so your voice does not tell them apart. Your lips and teeth do. If you can make F, you can make V by adding your voice, and you can hold V as a long buzz to check that the air is flowing. A mirror helps, because the difference is visible. The touch for V is light, so do not bite.
A pair can sound fine in single words and fall apart in a phrase, so practise with both sounds in the same phrase and record yourself to hear where one turns into the other. Some teachers treat an H sound at the start of words like which as an optional style, so a plain W is the safe choice. Expect weeks of short practice. The habit is the real problem, not your muscles.
Examples from the clips
- Clear English Academy with Keenyn Rhodes compares the two mouth shapes side by side: teeth on the lip for V, rounded lips and no contact for W.
- Pronunciation with Emma builds V from F by adding voice, then compares where the teeth touch.
- Learn English with Gill holds V as a buzz and shapes W with the lips rounded, like a small fish mouth.
- Accent's Way English with Hadar practises phrases that hold both sounds, and suggests recording yourself to spot where V runs into W.
Questions this lesson answers
What is the difference between V and W in English?
For V your upper teeth lightly touch your lower lip. For W your lips round and nothing touches. Both use your voice.
Is W a voiced sound?
Yes. Both V and W are voiced. One video says W has no vibration, but the other teachers here say it does, so do not rely on your voice to tell them apart.
Should I bite my lip for V?
No. A light touch of the teeth on the lip is enough. Most teachers here say do not bite.
How do I make the V sound if I only say W?
Start with F, which uses the same teeth and lip position, then switch your voice on. Put your fingers on your throat to feel the buzz.
Why do I get V and W right in words but not in sentences?
Pairs often slip when sounds run together in a phrase. Practise phrases with both sounds, then record yourself and listen for where they swap.