Help With Pronouncing The Letter 'V'!

I was born in UK but when I was very young I had to move to another country for a while. In that country, in my school, we were never taught how to pronounce the letter 'v'. It's been annoying me since, I always pronounce it as 'w'. Recently I got help from someone on the Internet to show me how to pronounce the letter 'v' properly and I've tried to figure stuff out myself.

I've recorded myself:

http://media.putfile.com/Verb-36
http://media.putfile.com/Vandalism-59

The first time I say it, it's my normal pronunciation. The second time is from somebody's help. The third is my own try at getting it right.

Could someone please rate how accurate each pronunciation is (out of 100, with 100 being completely accurate)?

I'd also be greatful for tips.

Reply 1

SuperhansFavouriteAlsatian

they're both absolutely fine and legible!

Reply 2

Fluent in Lies

2

a very very versed voicing.

Reply 3

Euan_hmfc

Velicity veered verociously. Vain vandalism. Veneer.

Say those words repeatedly and in no time you'll be pronouncing your V's perfectly!

Reply 4

Indus1986

4

vuuuuhhh, vuuuuhhh, vuhhhh... it is veeeee, veeeeee, veeeee.

Reply 5

Anonymous #2

This isn't a monty python rip off sketch is it?

Reply 6

*~vicki~*

2

To be honest, i wouldnt worry about it too much, people probably wont notice too much. I'm guessing you moved to germany or somewhere like that, as they dont pronounce their "v's" instead using "w". I think it is just something that will come with time, and you'll just have to keep practising :smile:

Reply 7

dogtanian

16

That sounds fine to me, but if you're that worried, proper speech therapy is probably the only way to get it perfect. People over the interwebs can't really do much.

I mean, and no offence meant here, but I don't say my Vs like how darkfairy describes.

Reply 8

robby88

1

you just sound really posh

Reply 9

dogtanian

16

Meh. I don't say my Rs like you're 'supposed' to, but they still sound like Rs! I don't think it matters too much.

Reply 10

FireDeuce

14

dogtanian

I mean, and no offence meant here, but I don't say my Vs like how darkfairy describes.

I do I just tried it ahahha

Reply 11

dogtanian

16

FireDeuce

I do I just tried it ahahha

Erm, good for you.

Reply 12

Fluent in Lies

2

darkfairy

The way I describe it is very exaggerated, but you are supposed to use your teeth on your bottom lip slightly to get a perfect v.

As you said, people over the interwebs can't really do much, as it's hard for me to describe exactly what I mean.

s'what I do.

Reply 13

DoktaUH

11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PR1T3KKLVs

great speech that should teach you how to say V's :grin:

Reply 14

db

17

that seems completely fine to , my cousins 'V's come out as 'F's. and when I was younger all my 'R's where 'W's, I went to speech therapy for a few years and now I have good speech and been asked on penty occasions to do public speaking :proud:

Reply 15

5150

A friend of mine at school's native language is Cantonese, and he pronounced "v" as "w", like most Hong Kongers. He solved his situation by replacing "v"s with "f"s.

Reply 16

banksy

1

Anonymous

I was born in UK but when I was very young I had to move to another country for a while. In that country, in my school, we were never taught how to pronounce the letter 'v'. It's been annoying me since, I always pronounce it as 'w'. Recently I got help from someone on the Internet to show me how to pronounce the letter 'v' properly and I've tried to figure stuff out myself.

I've recorded myself:

http://media.putfile.com/Verb-36
http://media.putfile.com/Vandalism-59

The first time I say it, it's my normal pronunciation. The second time is from somebody's help. The third is my own try at getting it right.

Could someone please rate how accurate each pronunciation is (out of 100, with 100 being completely accurate)?

I'd also be greatful for tips.

You went to Pakistan, didn't you. My grandmother can't say V either.

Reply 17

TommehR

13

Dokta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PR1T3KKLVs

great speech that should teach you how to say V's :grin:

That was immediately what I thought of when I saw this thread. :p:

Reply 18

Fenella

*~vicki~*

I'm guessing you moved to germany or somewhere like that, as they dont pronounce their "v's" instead using "w".

It's the other way round in Germany, W is pronounced as V. The OP probably moved to India, Pakistan or somewhere similar.

Reply 19

generalebriety

16

Sorry, can't hear the links, Firefox is broken. But think of the difference between saying "s" and "z". Then "th" ("thick") and "th" ("this"). It's the same difference as the one between "f" and "v" - one is "unvoiced", one is "voiced". To produce a "v" sound, say a long "f" sound, and make a sound with your throat, like you do when you're saying a long "z" sound (and in the same place). Practise this and it'll become more fluent. I'm not sure I could do V's speech... :confused:

Edit: in fact, having just tried it... it should be possible for you to say "zzzzzz", then open your teeth slightly to get rid of the "zzz" vibration while keeping an "uhhhhhh" sound there, then move your mouth to the same position you would use to say "ffff". That's a V.

Help With Pronouncing The Letter 'V'!

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