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English Pronunciation: Master the /w/ Sound
Rating: 4.9 out of 5(8 ratings)
187 students
Created byAnton H
Last updated 5/2025
English

What you'll learn

  • Accurately pronounce the /w/ sound in isolation and in combination with different vowel sounds.
  • Learn to articulate the /w/ sound within words, phrases, and sentences.
  • Understand the use of the lips, muscles, airflow, and resonance.
  • Practice linking words together using the /w/ sound.

Course content

6 sections15 lectures32m total length
  • Introduction3:15
  • Introducing the /w/ sound2:56
  • Placement exercise1:42
  • The /w/ sound up close0:49

Requirements

  • Some basic understanding of the International Phonetic Alphabet

Description

Learn to articulate the /w/ sound with precision. This course includes a series of exercises to help you develop confidence in articulating words and phrases that contain the /w/ sound.

The /w/ sound requires careful coordination and controlled movement of the lips. Non-native speakers can have a tendency to open their lips too quickly, resulting in a ballistic movement that affects their ability to articulate this sound correctly. This course emphasizes slow, deliberate practice to build the necessary muscle memory and control to articulate the /w/ sound with precision.

We begin with an introduction to the /w/ sound, it's usage within vocabulary, as well as its function as a glide vowel in connected speech. You'll learn how to position the articulators correctly, focusing on the rounding of the lips and the controlled flow of air that allows the /w/ sound to resonate correctly. The course progresses through a series of structured exercises, including placement drills, articulation practice, word repetition, and phrase repetition exercises. We'll also practise the /w/ sound as a glide vowel that allows natural connected speech.

Having taught English pronunciation for years, I've observed that the /w/ sound is often a stumbling block for learners. It's a sound that requires dedicated attention, more than a passing mention in a broader pronunciation course. That's why I created this focused mini-course, to provide detailed instruction and targeted practice needed to truly master the /w/ sound. Let's begin!!

Who this course is for:

  • Non-native English speakers who wish to master the /w/ sound of Received Pronunciation.