The /V/Sound: Speech Therapy Guide & Practice Games

The /V/ sound is a voiced labiodental fricative and the voiced counterpart of /F/. It is produced in exactly the same mouth position as /F/ (upper teeth on lower lip), but with the vocal cords vibrating. It appears in words like "van," "movie," and "give."

calendar_monthAge of mastery:4-5
trending_upFrequency:Moderate
sports_esportsGames available:8
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How to Make the /V/ Sound

Place your upper front teeth gently on your lower lip, just like for /F/. Now turn your voice on — you should feel a buzzing vibration in your throat and lips. Blow air through the gap between your teeth and lip while your voice is on. The sound should be a buzzy, humming version of /F/.

IPA Symbol: /v/

Most children master the /V/ sound by age 4-5. It typically develops after /F/ since it requires the same placement plus the added challenge of voicing.

Common /V/ Sound Errors

  • error_outlineSubstituting /B/ for /V/ (e.g., "ban" for "van")
  • error_outlineSubstituting /F/ for /V/ — devoicing (e.g., "fan" for "van")
  • error_outlineNot maintaining voicing throughout the sound
  • error_outlineUsing both lips instead of teeth on lip
  • error_outlineProducing the sound too weakly
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/V/ Word Lists by Position

Practice these words organized by where the /V/ sound appears. Start with the position your child finds easiest.

Initial Position

/V/ at the beginning of words

vacuumvalentinevalleyvanvasevegetablevetvestvideovillagevineviolinvisitvoicevolcanovolleyballvotevulturevioletvictory

Medial Position

/V/ in the middle of words

beavercoverdiverdriverenvelopeeverfavoriteflavorgivengravyheavenheavymovieneverovenoverriversevenshivertravel

Final Position

/V/ at the end of words

abovealivebravecavecurvedivedrivefivegavegiveglovehavehivelivelovemoveolivesaveservewave
sports_esportsPractice these words with our games
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Tips for Practicing the /V/ Sound at Home

Evidence-based strategies parents can use to support /V/ sound practice.

1

Since /V/ uses the same mouth position as /F/, start by making sure your child can say /F/ well. Then add the voice.

2

Have your child place a hand on their throat while saying /V/ to feel the vibration. Compare to /F/ (no vibration).

3

Use the "buzzing" cue: tell your child /V/ is the "buzzy" version of /F/, like a vacuum cleaner ("vvvvv").

4

Practice contrasting /F/ and /V/ pairs: fan/van, fast/vast, fine/vine, feel/veal.

5

The "vacuum cleaner" game: have your child pretend to vacuum while making the /V/ sound continuously.

6

Start with /V/ in the initial position (van, vet, vine) as it is often easiest there.

7

Use mirror practice so your child can confirm the teeth-on-lip position while feeling the throat vibration.

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Practice Sentences for the /V/ Sound

Read these sentences aloud with your child. Words containing the /V/ sound are highlighted.

Violet drove the van to the valley.

Seven brave divers dove into the cave.

I love movies about villains and volcanos.

The vet gave the beaver a vitamin every day.

Victor visited the village and ate vegetables.

My favorite flavor of gravy has olives in it.

The violin player lives above the river.

We gave five valentines to everyone we love.

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Games for the /V/ Sound

Practice the /V/ sound with interactive games designed by speech pathologists.

bubble_chart

Bubble Pop

/V/ practice

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Memory Match

/V/ practice

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Pizza Builder

/V/ practice

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Sound Fishing

/V/ practice

rocket_launch

Space Blaster

/V/ practice

directions_run

Word Runner

/V/ practice

pest_control

Whack-a-Word

/V/ practice

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Story Adventure

/V/ practice

Play games for the /V/ sound
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Frequently Asked Questions About the /V/ Sound

Common questions parents ask about the /V/ sound in speech therapy.

When should my child be able to say the /V/ sound?expand_more
Most children master /V/ by age 4-5. Since /V/ is the voiced version of /F/, it typically develops shortly after /F/ is mastered.
My child says /B/ instead of /V/. Is that a problem?expand_more
Substituting /B/ for /V/ is common in young children. Both are voiced sounds, but /B/ uses both lips while /V/ uses teeth on the lower lip. If this substitution persists past age 5, speech therapy can help teach the correct placement.
How do I help my child add voicing to /F/ to make /V/?expand_more
Have your child start with a long /F/ sound (fffff), then hum at the same time. The combination of the teeth-on-lip position plus the humming creates /V/. Placing a hand on the throat helps them feel when the voice turns on.
Are /V/ and /F/ related to /TH/?expand_more
They are all fricatives but differ in placement. /F/ and /V/ use teeth-on-lip, while /TH/ uses tongue-between-teeth. Children sometimes confuse these sounds, particularly substituting /V/ for the voiced /TH/ (saying "vis" instead of "this").
What are easy words to start practicing /V/?expand_more
Words with /V/ at the beginning tend to be easiest: "van," "vet," "vine," "voice." Move to medial position ("movie," "over," "seven") and then final position ("give," "five," "love") as your child gains confidence.

Related Sounds

/F/

F Sound

View guide

/B/

B Sound

View guide

/TH/

TH Sound

View guide

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