L and W minimal pairs
Pronunciation of the L and W sounds
To make the L sound put the back of your tongue on the roof of the back of your mouth. Using your vocal cords push air through your mouth. Quickly drop your tongue and let air slide over the sides of your tongue as it flows out your mouth.
To make the W sound make your lips round and tight together in a puckered fashion. As you use your voice quickly relax your lips.
L and W minimal pairs list
Note that these are all minimal pairs in the initial sound. (The first sound of each word is how they are different)
| laced - waste | lag - wag | lair - wear | lake - wake |
|---|---|---|---|
| lamb - wham | late - wait | later - waiter | law - war |
| lay - way | lead - wed | lead - weed | leading - weeding |
| leak - weak | lean - wean | leap - weep | leary - weary |
| leather - weather | leave - weave | ledge - wedge | leek - week |
| lei - weigh | lent - went | lest - west | let - wet |
| letter - wetter | lever - weaver | lick - wick | lie - why |
| lied - wide | lies - wise | life - wife | light - white |
| lighten - whiten | lighting - whiting | limp - wimp | line - wine |
| liner - whiner | lining - whining | link - wink | lip - whip |
| liquor - whicker | lit - wit | little - whittle | lizard - wizard |
| lock - wok | loom - womb | lyre - wire |
Practice sentences
Here are some fun sentences that you can use to practice the minimal pairs L and W.
The white light was on the wizard’s lizard.
We will wake by the lake eating leek next week.
It is good weather for leather.
His lies weren’t wise for the law of the war.
A weak lock and a leaking wok.
Lick the wick and make the letter wetter.
Why lie about the weak leak?
Related activities
If you are looking for more materials to practice these 2 target sounds, check out the L tongue twisters and the tongue twisters with W.
For more minimal pairs have a look at the numerous resources in the pronunciation section here at ESL Vault or simply use the search bar!
