More consonant sounds: f, l, r, w, j, v, y, z, x and qu
Short answer: This second set of consonants has several sounds that are new for many learners: /f/ and /v/ (teeth on the lip), /l/ and /r/ (different tongue positions), /w/ and /j/ (the letter y), /dʒ/ (letter j), /z/, /ks/ (letter x) and /kw/ (letters qu). Practice each in a word, and compare the pairs that are easy to mix up.
▶ Open the sound card Practice →
At a glance
| Letter | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| f | /f/ | fish |
| l | /l/ | leg |
| r | /r/ | red |
| w | /w/ | web |
| j | /dʒ/ | jam |
| v | /v/ | van |
| y | /j/ | yes |
| z | /z/ | zoo |
| x | /ks/ | box |
| qu | /kw/ | queen |
How to make the sound
- For /f/ and /v/, put your top teeth on your bottom lip. /f/ is air only; /v/ has a buzz.
- For /l/, touch the tip of your tongue behind your top teeth. For /r/, curl the tongue back and do not touch.
- For /w/, round your lips. For /j/ (y), the tongue is high in the mouth.
- Say x as /ks/ and qu as /kw/: box, queen.
Examples in sentences
- fish
/f/ at the start: /fɪʃ/. - leg
/l/ at the start: /lɛg/. - red
/r/ at the start: /rɛd/. - van
/v/ with a buzz: /væn/. - jam
j says /dʒ/ here: /dʒæm/. - box
x says /ks/: /bɑks/.
Common problems
- Mixing /l/ and /r/: light and right are different words. Keep the tongue back for /r/.
- Saying /v/ as /w/ or /b/: Use teeth on lip for /v/: van, not wan or ban.
- Reading y as a vowel at the start: At the start of a word, y says /j/ (yes), not /i/.
For Vietnamese speakers
- Vietnamese has /v/ and /l/, but English /r/ is a different sound with no tongue contact. Practice it slowly.
- The sound /z/ may be heard as /s/. Add a buzz: zoo, not sue.
Check yourself
- What sound does “x” make in “box”?
Show the answer
/ks/ Two sounds.
- What is the first sound of “jam”?
Show the answer
/dʒ/ The letter j.
- Which pair differs in the tongue?
Show the answer
light – right /l/ touches, /r/ does not.
Questions
Why is /r/ hard?
The tongue should not touch the mouth. It pulls back, and the lips round slightly.
Is y a vowel or a consonant?
Both. It is a consonant /j/ at the start (yes) and a vowel sound in words such as my.
Do I need to learn all ten at once?
No. Work on one pair at a time and test it in words.
More lessons in this part
Part of the 👄 Pronunciation tool: Phonics & Word Decoding. 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