In today’s lesson, let’s learn about the consonant sound /v/ and how to pronounce it correctly. We also provide lists of words including the /v/ sound and tongue twisters for you to practice it so you can improve your clarity and confidence when speaking English. Let’s get started!
The Consonant Sound /v/
What is the Consonant Sound /v/?
The /v/ sound is a voiced consonant in English. It is known as a voiced labiodental fricative, which means:
- Voiced: Your vocal cords vibrate when you make this sound.
- Labiodental: The sound is produced by placing your top teeth on your bottom lip.
- Fricative: Air flows through a small space, causing friction.
How to Pronounce /v/
- Lightly place your top front teeth on your bottom lip.
- Push air through the small gap.
- Use your voice—you should feel vibration in your throat.
Here’s an audio example demonstrating the /v/ sound and the word van for clear practice.
Try saying van and fan. Put your fingers on your throat—van should vibrate, fan should not.
Tongue Twisters for /v/ Sound Practice
Here are some fun and effective tongue twisters to help you practice the /v/ sound:
- Vivian visited Venice and viewed various vintage vases.
- Victor’s van veered violently on the village road.
- Valerie’s very vivid vacation video went viral.
- Vincent’s velvet violin vibrated with every verse.
- Every visitor values Vivian’s valuable violets.
Words with the Consonant Sound /v/
Words with /v/ Sound at the Beginning
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| van | /væn/ |
| vase | /veɪs/ |
| vast | /væst/ |
| value | /ˈvæljuː/ |
| voice | /vɔɪs/ |
| vote | /voʊt/ |
| very | /ˈvɛri/ |
| velvet | /ˈvɛlvɪt/ |
| video | /ˈvɪdiˌoʊ/ |
| view | /vjuː/ |
| visit | /ˈvɪzɪt/ |
| visual | /ˈvɪʒuəl/ |
| vanish | /ˈvænɪʃ/ |
| victory | /ˈvɪktəri/ |
| vehicle | /ˈviːɪkəl/ |
| violin | /ˌvaɪəˈlɪn/ |
| vinegar | /ˈvɪnɪɡɚ/ |
| vibrant | /ˈvaɪbrənt/ |
| volcano | /vɑːlˈkeɪnoʊ/ |
| volume | /ˈvɑːljuːm/ |
| virus | /ˈvaɪrəs/ |
| vowel | /ˈvaʊəl/ |
| venture | /ˈvɛntʃɚ/ |
| vertical | /ˈvɝːtɪkəl/ |
| verify | /ˈvɛrɪfaɪ/ |
| variety | /vəˈraɪəti/ |
| veteran | /ˈvɛtərən/ |
| vest | /vɛst/ |
| vow | /vaʊ/ |
| vibrate | /ˈvaɪbreɪt/ |
| vandal | /ˈvændəl/ |
| vanilla | /vəˈnɪlə/ |
| vendor | /ˈvɛndɚ/ |
| venom | /ˈvɛnəm/ |
| version | /ˈvɝːʒən/ |
| verge | /vɝːdʒ/ |
| visible | /ˈvɪzəbəl/ |
| vigilance | /ˈvɪdʒɪləns/ |
| villain | /ˈvɪlən/ |
| virtue | /ˈvɝːtʃuː/ |
| village | /ˈvɪlɪdʒ/ |
| vivid | /ˈvɪvɪd/ |
| viewer | /ˈvjuːɚ/ |
| verdict | /ˈvɝːdɪkt/ |
| velocity | /vəˈlɑːsəti/ |
| vegetarian | /ˌvɛdʒəˈtɛriən/ |
| vacancy | /ˈveɪkənsi/ |
| vacuum | /ˈvækjuːm/ |
| valiant | /ˈvæliənt/ |
| vandalize | /ˈvændəˌlaɪz/ |
| vanguard | /ˈvænɡɑːrd/ |
| variation | /ˌvɛriˈeɪʃən/ |
| valentine | /ˈvælənˌtaɪn/ |
| valedictorian | /ˌvælədɪkˈtɔːriən/ |
| valuation | /ˌvæljuˈeɪʃən/ |
| vent | /vɛnt/ |
| vapor | /ˈveɪpɚ/ |
| veto | /ˈviːtoʊ/ |
| veal | /viːl/ |
| versatile | /ˈvɝːsətəl/ |
| veer | /vɪr/ |
| vault | /vɔːlt/ |
Words with /v/ Sound in the Middle
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| oven | /ˈʌvən/ |
| cover | /ˈkʌvər/ |
| ever | /ˈɛvər/ |
| never | /ˈnɛvər/ |
| river | /ˈrɪvər/ |
| level | /ˈlɛvəl/ |
| movie | /ˈmuːvi/ |
| lover | /ˈlʌvər/ |
| giving | /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/ |
| living | /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ |
| saving | /ˈseɪvɪŋ/ |
| travel | /ˈtrævəl/ |
| heavy | /ˈhɛvi/ |
| clever | /ˈklɛvər/ |
| over | /ˈoʊvər/ |
| behave | /bɪˈheɪv/ |
| arrive | /əˈraɪv/ |
| survive | /sərˈvaɪv/ |
| evolve | /ɪˈvɑːlv/ |
| revive | /rɪˈvaɪv/ |
| devour | /dɪˈvaʊər/ |
| avoid | /əˈvɔɪd/ |
| event | /ɪˈvɛnt/ |
| advice | /ædˈvaɪs/ |
| invite | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ |
| revise | /rɪˈvaɪz/ |
| avenger | /əˈvɛndʒər/ |
| caveman | /ˈkeɪvmæn/ |
| pivot | /ˈpɪvət/ |
| divine | /dɪˈvaɪn/ |
| evolve | /ɪˈvɑːlv/ |
| loving | /ˈlʌvɪŋ/ |
| proving | /ˈpruːvɪŋ/ |
| waving | /ˈweɪvɪŋ/ |
| giving | /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/ |
| approval | /əˈpruːvəl/ |
| revolve | /rɪˈvɑːlv/ |
| avoidable | /əˈvɔɪdəbəl/ |
| aversion | /əˈvɜːrʒən/ |
| favoritism | /ˈfeɪvərɪtɪzəm/ |
| savior | /ˈseɪvjər/ |
| deliver | /dɪˈlɪvər/ |
| involve | /ɪnˈvɑːlv/ |
| prevail | /prɪˈveɪl/ |
| invitee | /ˌɪnvaɪˈtiː/ |
| envelop | /ɪnˈvɛləp/ |
| invention | /ɪnˈvɛnʃən/ |
| advent | /ˈædvɛnt/ |
| civic | /ˈsɪvɪk/ |
| vivid | /ˈvɪvɪd/ |
| novice | /ˈnɑːvɪs/ |
| lavish | /ˈlævɪʃ/ |
| average | /ˈævərɪdʒ/ |
| bravery | /ˈbreɪvəri/ |
| favoring | /ˈfeɪvərɪŋ/ |
| advisable | /ədˈvaɪzəbəl/ |
| envelope | /ˈɛnvəˌloʊp/ |
| gravely | /ˈɡreɪvli/ |
| revoke | /rɪˈvoʊk/ |
| evolving | /ɪˈvɑːlvɪŋ/ |
Words with /v/ Sound at the End
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| leave | /liːv/ |
| love | /lʌv/ |
| give | /ɡɪv/ |
| save | /seɪv/ |
| wave | /weɪv/ |
| have | /hæv/ |
| live (verb) | /lɪv/ |
| believe | /bɪˈliːv/ |
| drive | /draɪv/ |
| arrive | /əˈraɪv/ |
| behave | /bɪˈheɪv/ |
| forgive | /fərˈɡɪv/ |
| survive | /sərˈvaɪv/ |
| prove | /pruːv/ |
| move | /muːv/ |
| shove | /ʃʌv/ |
| grove | /ɡroʊv/ |
| dive | /daɪv/ |
| strive | /straɪv/ |
| thrive | /θraɪv/ |
| crave | /kreɪv/ |
| starve | /stɑːrv/ |
| absolve | /əbˈzɑːlv/ |
| revolve | /rɪˈvɑːlv/ |
| evolve | /ɪˈvɑːlv/ |
| resolve | /rɪˈzɑːlv/ |
| involve | /ɪnˈvɑːlv/ |
| dissolve | /dɪˈzɑːlv/ |
| outlive | /ˌaʊtˈlɪv/ |
| misgive | /ˌmɪsˈɡɪv/ |
| relive | /ˌriːˈlɪv/ |
| reprieve | /rɪˈpriːv/ |
| perceive | /pərˈsiːv/ |
| conceive | /kənˈsiːv/ |
| deceive | /dɪˈsiːv/ |
| retrieve | /rɪˈtriːv/ |
| interleave | /ˌɪntərˈliːv/ |
| reeve | /riːv/ |
| heave | /hiːv/ |
| reprove | /rɪˈpruːv/ |
| outgive | /aʊtˈɡɪv/ |
| deprive | /dɪˈpraɪv/ |
| archive | /ˈɑːrkaɪv/ |
| connive | /kəˈnaɪv/ |
| disprove | /dɪsˈpruːv/ |
| outdrive | /ˌaʊtˈdraɪv/ |
| autoclave | /ˈɔːtəkleɪv/ |
| conserve | /kənˈsɜːrv/ |
| beehive | /ˈbiːhaɪv/ |
| rev | /rɛv/ |
| halve | /hæv/ |
| calve | /kæv/ |
| nerve | /nɜːrv/ |
| serve | /sɜːrv/ |
Mastering the /v/ Sound in English — Practice Quiz
Q1
Question 1: What does 'voiced labiodental fricative' mean when describing the /v/ sound?
Q2
Question 2: The /v/ sound is an unvoiced consonant, so your vocal cords do not vibrate when you say it.
Q3
Question 3: Which sentence uses the word 'vivid' correctly?
Q4
Question 4: Match each word containing the /v/ sound to its meaning.
Q5