/v/

The /v/: the /f/ with voice — and it isn't a /b/

The /v/ is made exactly like /f/, bottom lip on top teeth, but with the voice vibrating. In Spanish the written v is pronounced just like a b, so this sound is genuinely new — and without it, words like very, voice and love get confused with other words.

How it's made

• 👄 Mouth: bottom lip touching the top teeth; the lips do not close against each other.
• 👅 Tongue: free — it plays no part.
• 🔊 Voice: voiced — the lip should vibrate against the teeth.

You hear it in: very · voice · love · have · river

⚠️ The typical Spanish-speaker mistake: pronouncing it as a /b/ by closing both lips. Very said as beri is probably the most recognizable consonant error a Spanish speaker makes.

By the end you'll be able to: keep the lip on the teeth with voice, and separate very / berry and vote / boat.