Story time (connected speech)
One day Sparky the star found a watch. Next to it was a worm and a whale. "Wow!" said Sparky. Then Sparky saw a wolf and a window. What a great day!
W
W sound /w/
Round lips that open up — 'wuh'. Only begins syllables in English.
American English pronunciation model · voiced · lips and back of tongue · glide · spellings: w, wh, u (queen)
This page practises English sounds — the words and sentences stay in English on purpose.
Watch how to make this sound
/w/ · Round-and-glide sound
Articulation visual awaiting professional review — not yet checked by a speech and language therapist.
Voice on · feel the buzz · Airflow
Round your lips, lift the tongue back and glide into the next sound.
Both lip rounding and a raised tongue back shape this voiced glide.
Movement 1/3: Lips round
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How to Make the Sound
/w/
Voice switched ON
Put your hand on your throat — you should feel a buzz.
Remember it: Round-lips sound — like blowing out a candle, then opening.
- Tongue
- The back of the tongue lifts slightly.
- Lips and jaw
- Lips start tightly rounded, then open into the vowel.
- Air
- Smooth voice, no friction.
Step by step
- Round your lips like a small O.
- Voice on — "oo".
- Open your lips into the next vowel — wa.
Common difficulties and gentle help
- Leaving /w/ off or using /b/. Start from a long "oo" and glide into the vowel: "oo-ee" becomes "we".
Step up gradually
- 1. Sound on its own
- 2. Syllables
- 3. Words
- 4. Phrases
- 5. Sentences
- 6. Everyday talk
A sound can be easier on its own than in connected speech. Move on only when your child is saying it accurately and feels ready — not just because a worksheet is finished. Read the Parent Guide
1. Sound in isolation
/w/
Lips round like an O, then open: w-w-w.
Hear yourself
This device can't record audio, so listening back isn't available here. Practise with the model sounds instead.
2. Syllables
wa
wee
wo
woo
wi
awa
eewa
owa
Initial position
watch
/w/ · initial
“my watch”
worm
/w/ · initial
“my worm”
whale
/w/ · initial
“my whale”
wolf
/w/ · initial
“my wolf”
window
/w/ · initial
“my window”
watermelon
/w/ · initial
“my watermelon”
Medial position
kiwi
/w/ · medial
“my kiwi”
sandwich
/w/ · medial
“my sandwich”
penguin
/w/ · medial
“my penguin”
halloween
/w/ · medial
“my halloween”
Short phrases
- my watch
- my worm
- my whale
- my wolf
- my window
- my watermelon
- my kiwi
- my sandwich
- my penguin
- my halloween
Sentences
- I can see the watch.
- I can see the worm.
- I can see the whale.
- I can see the wolf.
- I can see the window.
- I can see the watermelon.
- I can see the kiwi.
- I can see the sandwich.
- I can see the penguin.
- I can see the halloween.