English Pronunciation | Minimal Pairs F and V, L and R

In this article, we are going to work on the difference between F and V, L and R pronunciation using minimal pairs.

YouTube Video

Title: English Pronunciation | Minimal Pairs F and V, L and R

Video Transcript

Hello. My name is Lacey and I am your English Teacher for today! Welcome to the Eigo Love Youtube Channel. Today we are going to work on the difference between F and V pronunciation using minimal pairs.

First, let me start off by explaining the position of my mouth when I am pronouncing both of these sounds.

How to pronounce F and V

[Playback Position：46sec]

Both sounds have the same mouth positions. Use your upper teeth and lightly place them on top of your lower lip. The key difference is the use of air and voice. The F sound only uses air. The V sound, on the other hand, uses your voice.

So if you put your hand on your throat, during the f, you should not feel a vibration. With the v, you will feel a vibration. Did you get it?

Minimal Pairs F and V

[Playback Position：1min 43sec]

Let’s practice by using minimal pairs. Minimal pairs are words that sound very similar, but in this case, they differ by the f and v sound. We will start off with easier words and slowly begin practicing more difficult words.

Are you ready?
Repeat after me.

How did you do?

At first, it might be a little difficult, but don’t give up. Work on listening and distinguishing the difference first. From then, continue to practice your pronunciation.

Before we finish, let’s check the sound one more time.

F.
V.

Can you feel the difference?

How to pronounce L and R

[Playback Position：4min 00sec]

First, let me start off by explaining the position of my mouth when I am pronouncing both of the sounds.

First the R sound. When I pronounce the R, my tongue stays in the bottom of my mouth. It will not touch the roof of my mouth. This is very important.

R.
R.
R.

The L sound on the other hand, uses the tongue. The tongue is very active and will go to the top of the mouth. What’s important is to not curl your tongue. So to find the best position, first stick your tongue out.

And slowly pull it back to where it’s just right behind your teeth. This is the perfect position to say your L, like my name Lacey.

Lacey. L.

Perfect.

I have noticed that the R sound tends to be more difficult for many speakers, but don’t give up.

Minimal Pairs L and R

[Playback Position：5min 9sec]

Let’s practice by using minimal pairs. Minimal pairs are words that sound very similar, but in this case, they differ by the r and l sound. We will start off with easier words and slowly begin practicing more difficult words.

Please repeat after me.

Good job. At first, it might be a little difficult, but don’t give up. Work on listening and distinguishing the difference between both R and L. Listening and distinguishing is the first step. Then continue to practice your pronunciation. I recommend watching this video several times (so that you can ***) so that you can continue to improve your pronunciation. Before this video is over, I want to double check our R and L position one more time.
Make sure (your) for your R that your tongue is very still. R. R.
And for your L, your tongue is active. L L.
How did you do?

Thank you for watching

[Playback Position：8min 16sec]

Thank you for watching this video. I hope it that it helps. This is a practice I do with many of my private students.

If you like this video, please give it a thumbs up. And if you want more of my English videos, please subscribe down below. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the comments section below. And, until next time, goodbye!