/w/

Round your lips into a small, tight circle, as if you're about to whistle or blow out a candle. At the same time, raise the back of your tongue toward the soft palate (the velum) at the back of your mouth. Your lips should push forward slightly, creating that distinctive puckered shape.

This sound is voiced, which means your vocal cords vibrate when you make it. If you place your hand on your throat, you should feel a gentle buzz. Think of /w/ as the consonant version of the "oo" vowel in "moon" - your mouth starts in almost the same position, then glides smoothly into the next vowel.

• Saying /v/ instead: "vine" for "wine" - this happens when you bring your top teeth down to touch your lower lip instead of rounding both lips. The /v/ sound has friction; /w/ should feel smooth and open.
• Insufficient lip rounding: The sound comes out weak or unclear. Make sure your lips form a tight, forward-pushing circle.
• Skipping the sound entirely: Some learners drop the /w/ altogether, saying "ater" for "water". Always start with that rounded lip position.

Try the "candle test": hold your hand in front of your mouth. When you say /w/ correctly, you should feel a soft, rounded puff of air - like you're gently blowing toward a candle without actually extinguishing it. If you feel a sharp or scratchy airflow, you might be making /v/ instead.

Practice in front of a mirror. Your lips should visibly push forward and form a small circle before opening into the vowel that follows.