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LISTEN |
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/l/.../l/.../l/.../l/...
less...sleep...meal...seller... |
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WHAT IS IT? |
Pronunciation:
The consonant /l/ is a voiced, alveolar, liquid consonant.
The consonant /l/ may be at the beginning of a word, in the middle of a word, or at the end of the word. If /l/ is at the end of the word or in a final consonant cluster, it has a slightly different sound and will be longer than other consonants. To pronounce /l/ at the end of a word, add a slight uh (/ə/) sound before /l/ and drop the pitch of your voice in the middle of the vowel. Enunciate the final consonant clearly.
The consonant /l/ is a voiced, alveolar, liquid consonant.
- Touch your gum ridge (the hard spot behind your upper teeth) with the tip of your tongue.
- Curl the sides of your tongue upwards.
- Breathe out, pushing air to the sides of your mouth.
- Your vocal cords should vibrate.
The consonant /l/ may be at the beginning of a word, in the middle of a word, or at the end of the word. If /l/ is at the end of the word or in a final consonant cluster, it has a slightly different sound and will be longer than other consonants. To pronounce /l/ at the end of a word, add a slight uh (/ə/) sound before /l/ and drop the pitch of your voice in the middle of the vowel. Enunciate the final consonant clearly.
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Try to hear the /əl/ and pitch drop in these examples.
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The sound /l/ can be in these consonant clusters.
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Beginning of a Syllable
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End of a Syllable
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>
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/kl/ ("kl" / “cl”) - klutz, closet
/gl/ ("gl") - glass /bl/ ("bl") - blue /pl/ ("pl") - please /sl/ ("sl") - slow /spl/ ("spl") - split /fl/ ("fl") - fly |
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/lb/ ("lb") - bulb
/lbz/ (“lbs”) - bulbs /lp/ ("lp") - pulp /lps/ ("lps")- helps /lpt/ ("lped") - yelped /lt/ ("lt")- built /lts/ ("lts")- melts /ld/ ("ld")- gold /ldz/ (“lds”) - builds /lz/ (“ls”) - nails /ls/ (“lse”) - false /lv/ (“lve”) - involve |
/lvz/ (“lves”) - shelves
/lvd/ (“lved”) - solved /lf/ ("lf")- elf /ltʃ/ (“lch”) - mulch /ltʃt/ (“lched”) - filched /ldʒ/ (“lge”) - bulge /ldʒd/ (“lged”) - indulged /lʃ/ (“lsh”) - Welsh /lm/ ("lm")- palm /lmz/ (“lms”) - helms /lmd/ ("lmed")- filmed |
Spelling:
- "l" - mail, lose
- "ll" - mall, yellow
- "le" - sale, file
Grammar Tip:
The sound /l/ appears in several suffixes
- “-ly” turns an adjective into an adverb
- “-ful” turns a noun into an adjective
- “-able” turns a noun or verb into an adjective
- “-al” often indicates an adjective
Listen to the examples:
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COMPARE |
Compare /l/ and /r/:
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/l/.../r/.../l/.../r/.../l/.../r/
The consonants /l/ and /r/ are both voiced, liquid consonants. However, /l/ is pronounced with the the tip of the tongue touching the gum ridge, while /r/ is pronounced with the tongue near (but not touching!) the roof of your mouth. |
You can hear the difference between /l/ and /r/ in these words.
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1. A. lip, B. rip
2. A. climb, B. crime 3. A. feel, B. fear 4. A. balls, B. bars 5. A. halt, B. heart 6. A. peeling, B. peering |
Practice recognizing words with /l/ and /r/ by taking the quiz below.
As extra practice, practice recognizing words with and without a vowel+/l/ in the quiz below.
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PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words:

words_with_-l-.mp3 | |
File Size: | 567 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
1. list
2. lake 3. lose 4. allow 5. silent 6. blue 7. sleeve 8. glass 9. please 10. climate |
11. split
12. fall 13. steal 14. mail 15. kills 16. world 17. also 18. colder 19. celebrate 20. calculator |
Now, practice /l/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
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1. really - like - blueberries
I don't really like blueberries. 2. popular - class - school - biology The most popular class in my school was biology. 3. always - clothes - laundromat I always wash my clothes at the laundromat. 4. usually - call - people - cellphone I usually call people on my cellphone. 5. close - all - family Are you close to all of your family? 6. trouble - solving - problem I'm having trouble solving this problem. |
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
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USE IT! |
Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.
Prepare:
What strategies help you become fluent in another language? Rank these steps from least helpful to most helpful.
Record:
In your recording, describe the 3 most helpful strategies, and explain why you chose them.
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate
Prepare:
What strategies help you become fluent in another language? Rank these steps from least helpful to most helpful.
- Taking a formal class
- Learning grammar rules
- Living in another country
- Scheduling daily practice with a language partner
- Reviewing vocabulary flashcards
- Listening to foreign music
- Reading foreign novels
Record:
In your recording, describe the 3 most helpful strategies, and explain why you chose them.
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate

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