Let’s practice pronouncing W and V with a listen and repeat exercise! Note: This distinction is especially difficult for English learners from Slavic languages. The V sound in some Russian words like волосы (volosi) is not a strong V like the one used in English. It’s a hybrid between the V and W sounds. When you use this hybrid sound in English, native speakers cannot distinguish whether you’re saying a V or W. This can be a little embarrassing when you accidentally say “wending machine” instead of “vending machine” and can cause confusion if someone hears “vest” when you’re trying to say “west.” In order to master the pronunciation of these two sounds, you need to train your ear to hear the difference. Listen carefully to the different quality of the two sounds in the following word pairs and sentences, then repeat after me. Book a lesson for more practice and personalized guidance on this and other tricky aspects of the American accent!