Lessons Unit 3, lesson 11
l + vowels
The l beginning opening into every vowel it starts words with. Get the mouth ready for l, release straight into the vowel — no gap, no extra sound between them.
What do the marks mean?
Want the full walkthrough? Read the map explains every mark, with practice.
ll as in law
Tongue tip up behind your top teeth — and sing: lll. Air flows around the sides of your tongue.
l + every vowel
One row per combination. Tap any word to hear it — every sheet comes straight from the tool.
| l æ | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| l ɪ | |||
| l ɛ | |||
| l ʌ | |||
| l ʊ | |||
| l ɑ | |||
| l iː | |||
| l uː | |||
| l ɔː | |||
| l eɪ | |||
| l aɪ | |||
| l aʊ | |||
| l oʊ |
A light l, every time
Because l always sits right before a vowel in this list, it stays a light l — tongue tip touching behind your top teeth, air flowing around both sides, with none of the dark, throat-pulled quality l gets at the end of a word like full. Say love, let, and like and keep the tongue tip light and forward each time.
Where the tongue tip meets rounding
Rounded vowels ask the lips to round while the tongue tip is still doing its job, so look, lure, and loud take a little more coordination than last or list. Read one column at a time out loud, then say it again without looking, checking that the l stays crisp and light no matter which vowel follows — resist any urge to let it sound heavy or swallowed the way it can at the end of a syllable.