The American L sound can be challenging for many non-native speakers of English. Part of the difficulty may be that we make a different sound when L is at the start of the word versus the end of the word. To make the L at the start of the word, lift the tip of your tongue and place it behind your front teeth. If you have trouble feeling where this is, you can say the words "tot" and "tight" and feel the tongue tap up for the "t" sounds. The L sound is made with the tongue tip in the same place. Try saying "tot, lot" and "tight, light." Use the recording below to practice. |
tool (too-w-uh-l) tail (tay-y-uh-l) feel (fee-y-uh-l) fuel (fyoo-w-uh-l)