How to Properly Pronounce the American English W Sound
June 29, 2017
In accent reduction, we frequently see patterns of common mispronunciations that can come with specific first languages. When it comes to native Telugu speakers, one of the most common mispronounced letters is the American letter /W/. It is often substituted with the sound of /V/. For example, you might say ‘vife’ instead of the properly pronounced wife.
How to Correctly Pronounce an American English W
There is a trick to making the proper /w/ sound. Round your lips in a tight circle and make sure your lower lip does not touch your upper teeth.
You’ll notice when you make the /v/ sound that is often inserted where a /w/ belongs, that your lips stay looser and your bottom lip touches your upper teeth.
Practice:
wife
want
went
west