f, v or w? How to tell /f/, /v/ and /w/ apart
Short answer: Three sounds are often mixed up: /f/ in fan, /v/ in van and /w/ in wet. For /f/ and /v/, put your top teeth on your bottom lip: /f/ is air only, and /v/ has a buzz. For /w/, round your lips and do not touch your teeth. Practice them in a trio.
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At a glance
| Sound | Mouth | Voice | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| /f/ | top teeth on bottom lip | air only | fan, five |
| /v/ | top teeth on bottom lip | buzz | van, very |
| /w/ | lips round, no teeth | buzz | wet, west |
How to make the sound
- For /f/, bite your bottom lip lightly and blow air.
- For /v/, do the same and turn on your voice. Feel the buzz.
- For /w/, round your lips like a small circle. No teeth.
- Practice the trio: fan – van – wan.
Pairs to practice
| /f/ | /v/ | /w/ |
|---|---|---|
| fan | van | wan |
| fine | vine | wine |
| fest | vest | west |
Examples in sentences
- fan
f = /f/: /fæn/. - van
v = /v/: /væn/. - wet
w = /w/: /wɛt/. - five
f = /f/ and v = /v/: /faɪv/. - very
v = /v/: /ˈvɛri/. - west
w = /w/: /wɛst/.
Common problems
- Saying /v/ as /w/: very becomes wery. Use teeth on lip for /v/.
- Saying /v/ as /b/: van becomes ban. Keep a little air, not a full stop.
- Using teeth for /w/: wet is not vet. Round the lips and keep the teeth away.
For Vietnamese speakers
- Learners often replace /v/ with another sound. Teeth on the lip is the key.
- English /w/ is a quick glide, as in wet, not a full vowel.
Check yourself
- Which sound uses teeth on the lip and a buzz?
Show the answer
/v/ Voiced.
- Which sound uses round lips?
Show the answer
/w/ No teeth.
- Which sound is air only?
Show the answer
/f/ No buzz.
Questions
Why do I mix /v/ and /w/?
Some languages have just one of them. English needs both.
Is the end of five /v/?
Yes: five ends in /v/, not /f/.
How can I practice?
Look in a mirror: teeth on lip for /v/, round lips for /w/.
More lessons in this part
- sh or s? ship, sip
- Short i or long ee? ship, sheep
- th, s or d? think, sink, they, day
- ch, sh or j? chip, ship, jam
- l, r or n? light, right, night
Part of the 👄 Pronunciation tool: Sound Contrast & Articulation. See also the English pronunciation guide. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30