When you speak English, you often hear words that start with a soft, smooth sound like in water or window. That sound is called the /w/ sound. Let’s explore what it is, how to pronounce it, and how to practice it so you can speak more confidently.
The Consonant Sound /w/
What Is the /w/ Sound?
The /w/ sound is a voiced labio-velar approximant. That might sound complicated, but it simply means:
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IPA Symbol: /w/
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Voiced: Your vocal cords vibrate when you make the sound.
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Labio-velar: You use your lips (labio) and the back of your tongue near the soft part of your mouth (velar).
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Approximant: The air flows smoothly without friction.
How to Pronounce /w/
Follow these simple steps:
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Round your lips like you’re going to whistle or say “oo.”
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Raise the back of your tongue slightly toward the soft palate.
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Push air out smoothly while letting your vocal cords vibrate.
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Move into the next vowel sound quickly.
Try saying “we” or “water” slowly, and feel how your lips start rounded and then open.
You can hear the /w/ sound clearly in this audio, together with the example wet.
Tongue Twisters for /w/ Sound Practice
Say each tongue twister slowly and clearly at first, then repeat it faster while focusing on rounding your lips for the /w/ sound. Record yourself to check your pronunciation and improve over time.
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Wendy wears warm wool when windy.
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We will win with wonderful wisdom.
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Willy’s white whale wiggled wildly.
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Walter’s wallet was wet with water.
Words with the Consonant Sound /w/
Words with /w/ Sound at the Beginning
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| water | /ˈwɔːtər/ |
| window | /ˈwɪndoʊ/ |
| wall | /wɔːl/ |
| walk | /wɔːk/ |
| warm | /wɔːrm/ |
| wave | /weɪv/ |
| wish | /wɪʃ/ |
| wait | /weɪt/ |
| well | /wel/ |
| wild | /waɪld/ |
| win | /wɪn/ |
| word | /wɜːrd/ |
| work | /wɜːrk/ |
| world | /wɜːrld/ |
| wear | /wer/ |
| watch | /wɑːtʃ/ |
| weak | /wiːk/ |
| wheel | /wiːl/ |
| white | /waɪt/ |
| wise | /waɪz/ |
| wonder | /ˈwʌndər/ |
| warning | /ˈwɔːrnɪŋ/ |
| winner | /ˈwɪnər/ |
| weekly | /ˈwiːkli/ |
| wealthy | /ˈwelθi/ |
| willing | /ˈwɪlɪŋ/ |
| windy | /ˈwɪndi/ |
| waffle | /ˈwɔːfəl/ |
| wallet | /ˈwɔːlət/ |
| wavy | /ˈweɪvi/ |
| weapon | /ˈwepən/ |
| welcome | /ˈwelkəm/ |
| western | /ˈwestərn/ |
| whisper | /ˈwɪspər/ |
| wooden | /ˈwʊdən/ |
| wool | /wʊl/ |
| worship | /ˈwɜːrʃɪp/ |
| worth | /wɜːrθ/ |
| wrap | /ræp/ |
| wreck | /rek/ |
| wrinkle | /ˈrɪŋkəl/ |
| writer | /ˈraɪtər/ |
| wrong | /rɔːŋ/ |
| worry | /ˈwɜːri/ |
| worm | /wɜːrm/ |
| ward | /wɔːrd/ |
| wavelet | /ˈweɪvlət/ |
| warrant | /ˈwɔːrənt/ |
| wander | /ˈwɒndər/ |
| warden | /ˈwɔːrdən/ |
| warfare | /ˈwɔːrfer/ |
| warmth | /wɔːrmθ/ |
| wharf | /wɔːrf/ |
| wagon | /ˈwæɡən/ |
| wafer | /ˈweɪfər/ |
| waken | /ˈweɪkən/ |
| walrus | /ˈwɔːlrəs/ |
| waltz | /wɔːlts/ |
| wanderer | /ˈwɒndərər/ |
| watery | /ˈwɔːtəri/ |
| watchdog | /ˈwɒtʃdɔːɡ/ |
| walkway | /ˈwɔːkweɪ/ |
| wardenry | /ˈwɔːrdənri/ |
| warlock | /ˈwɔːrlɑːk/ |
| warrior | /ˈwɔːriər/ |
| wasteland | /ˈweɪstlænd/ |
| wastage | /ˈweɪstɪdʒ/ |
| waver | /ˈweɪvər/ |
| web | /web/ |
| wedge | /wedʒ/ |
| weed | /wiːd/ |
Words with /w/ Sound in the Middle
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| somewhere | /ˈsʌm.wer/ |
| nowhere | /ˈnoʊ.wer/ |
| anywhere | /ˈeni.wer/ |
| beware | /bɪˈwer/ |
| reward | /rɪˈwɔːrd/ |
| forward | /ˈfɔːr.wərd/ |
| inward | /ˈɪn.wərd/ |
| outward | /ˈaʊt.wərd/ |
| upward | /ˈʌp.wərd/ |
| downward | /ˈdaʊn.wərd/ |
| westward | /ˈwest.wərd/ |
| eastward | /ˈiːst.wərd/ |
| skyward | /ˈskaɪ.wərd/ |
| seaward | /ˈsiː.wərd/ |
| backward | /ˈbæk.wərd/ |
| homeward | /ˈhoʊm.wərd/ |
| afterward | /ˈæf.tər.wərd/ |
| sideways | /ˈsaɪd.weɪz/ |
| hallway | /ˈhɔːl.weɪ/ |
| stairway | /ˈster.weɪ/ |
| subway | /ˈsʌb.weɪ/ |
| runway | /ˈrʌn.weɪ/ |
| freeway | /ˈfriː.weɪ/ |
| highway | /ˈhaɪ.weɪ/ |
| pathway | /ˈpæθ.weɪ/ |
| airway | /ˈer.weɪ/ |
| roadway | /ˈroʊd.weɪ/ |
| entryway | /ˈen.tri.weɪ/ |
| doorway | /ˈdɔːr.weɪ/ |
| gateway | /ˈɡeɪt.weɪ/ |
| driveway | /ˈdraɪv.weɪ/ |
| causeway | /ˈkɔːz.weɪ/ |
| freewheel | /ˈfriː.wiːl/ |
| overweigh | /ˌoʊ.vərˈweɪ/ |
| underweight | /ˌʌn.dərˈweɪt/ |
| somewhat | /ˈsʌm.wɒt/ |
| elsewhere | /ˌelsˈwer/ |
| unwieldy | /ʌnˈwiːl.di/ |
| midwifery | /mɪdˈwɪfəri/ |
| midway | /ˈmɪd.weɪ/ |
| likewise | /ˈlaɪk.waɪz/ |
| bewail | /bɪˈweɪl/ |
| await | /əˈweɪt/ |
| unworthy | /ʌnˈwɜːr.ði/ |
| unwoven | /ʌnˈwoʊ.vən/ |
| prewar | /ˌpriːˈwɔːr/ |
| awaken | /əˈweɪ.kən/ |
| awash | /əˈwɒʃ/ |
| aware | /əˈwer/ |