16. [v]
/v/ as in VERY /ˈvɛri/, OVER /ˈoʊvɚ/, and SAVE /seɪv/
PRONOUNCING /v/
UPPER TEETH: touch the lower lip (as for /f/)
AIRSTREAM: is continuous without interruption.
VOCAL CORDS: are vibrating.
The consonant sound /v/ does not exist in most dialects of Spanish.
POSSIBLE PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER
The Spanish letter v is pronounced exactly like b (tuvo and tubo are pronounced the same). As a result, you probably substitute /b/ for /v/ when speaking English. This will greatly confuse your listeners!
EXAMPLES:
If you say /b/ instead of /v/:
very /ˈvɛri/ will sound like berry /ˈbɛri/
vest /vɛst/ will sound like best /bɛst/
When /v/ is the last sound in a word, many Spanish speakers forget to vibrate their vocal cords. This will make /v/ sound like /f/ and confuse your listeners.
EXAMPLES:
If you say /f/ instead of /v/:
save /seɪv/ will sound like safe /seɪf/
leave /liv/ will sound like leaf /lif/
The sound /v/ will be easy for you to say if you CONCENTRATE on placing your upper teeth over your bottom lip. LOOK IN THE MIRROR as you practice the /v/ exercises and remember to make your vocal cords vibrate. Your /v/ will be VERY good!
EXERCISE A
The following words should be pronounced with /v/. Pronounce them carefully. Be sure you feel your upper teeth touch your lower lip.
/v/ At the Beginning
/v/ In the Middle
/v/ At the End
vine /vaɪn/
vase /veɪs/
vote /voʊt/
vest /vɛst/
very /ˈvɛri/
voice /vɔɪs/
visit /ˈvɪzɪt/
valley /ˈvæli/
vowel /ˈvaʊəl/
vacuum
/ˈvækyum/
even /ˈivən/
over /ˈoʊvɚ/
every /ˈɛvri/
seven /ˈsɛvən/
cover /ˈkʌvɚ/
river /ˈrɪvɚ/
heavy /ˈhɛvi/
movie /ˈmuvi/
clever /ˈklɛvɚ/
eleven /ɪˈlɛvən/
of /ʌv/
love /lʌv/
live /lɪv/
have /hæv/
move /muv/
drive /draɪv/
stove /stoʊv/
leave /liv/
carve /kɑrv/
brave /breɪv/
HINT:
The letter v in English is always pronounced /v/. A less common spelling for /v/ is the letter f.
EXAMPLE: of / ʌv/
EXERCISE B
Pronounce the following pairs of words carefully. Place your upper teeth over your bottom lip and add voicing for /v/. Be sure to prolong any vowel BEFORE the sound /v/.
vest /vɛst/
best /bɛst/
vow /vaʊ/
bow /baʊ/
very /ˈvɛri/
berry /ˈbɛri/
marvel /ˈmɑrvəl/
marble /ˈmɑrbəl/
vase /veɪs/
base /beɪs/
save /seɪv/
safe /seɪf/
leave /liv/
leaf /lif/
have /hæv/
half /hæf/
believe /bəˈliv/
belief /bəˈlif/
calve /kæv/
calf /kæf/
EXERCISE C
The boldface words in the following phrases and sentences should be pronounced with the consonant /v/. Pronounce them carefully.
very good
ˈvɛri ɡʊd
very nice
ˈvɛri naɪs
Very truly yours
ˈvɛri ˈtruli yɔrz
Move over!
muv ˈoʊvɚ!
over and over
ˈoʊvɚ ænd ˈoʊvɚ
rivers and valleys
ˈrɪvɚz ænd ˈvæliz
Please vacuum the living room.
pliz ˈvækyum ðə ˈlɪvɪŋ rʊm.
Have you ever been to Venice?
hæv yu ˈɛvɚ bɪn tu ˈvenɪs?
The vase is very heavy.
ðə veɪs ɪz ˈvɛri ˈhɛvi.
Did everyone leave at seven?
dɪd ˈɛvriˌwʌn liv æt ˈsɛvən?
Eve has a severe fever.
iv hæz ə səˈvɪr ˈfivɚ.
Move the TV over here.
muv ðə ˌti ˈvi ˈoʊvɚ hɪr.
Vera never eats liver.
ˈvɛrə ˈnɛvɚ its ˈlɪvɚ.
Steve was five in November.
stiv wʌz faɪv ɪn noʊˈvɛmbɚ.
The movie got rave reviews!
ðə ˈmuvi ɡɑt reɪv rɪˈvyuz!