The /l/ Sound, Voiced Alveolar Lateral
/l/
/l/ is a voiced alveolar lateral. To make it, the tip or blade of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge, just behind the upper teeth and the air flows out over the sides of the tongue. It is voiced, so the vocal folds vibrate.
Example Words
| Word | UK | US | |
|---|---|---|---|
| leg | /leɡ/ | /leɡ/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| yellow | /ˈjel.əʊ/ | /ˈjel.oʊ/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
| ball | /bɔːl/ | /bɔːl/ | Syllables · Pronounce |
Distinctive Features
/l/ is told apart from every other English sound by two distinctive features.
Allophones Of /l/
/l/ has 8 allophones in the app, starting with [l], before a vowel or /j/ (clear l). The full list, where each occurs and the examples are in Allophones, which opens with any course or with Adroit Plus.
Words With The /l/ Sound
/l/ At The Start Of A Word
- lag
- lap
- law
- lax
- lay
- leg
- let
- lid
- lie
- lip
- lit
- lot
- low
- lace
- lack
- lady
- laid
- lair
- lake
- lamb
- lame
- lamp
- land
- lane
- lard
- lash
- last
- late
- laud
- lava
/l/ In The Middle Of A Word
- flu
- fly
- old
- sly
- ally
- aloe
- also
- bald
- belt
- blow
- blue
- bold
- bolt
- bulb
- clap
- clay
- clip
- club
- clue
- cola
- cold
- else
- felt
- film
- flag
- flap
- flat
- flaw
- flee
- flew
/l/ At The End Of A Word
- all
- eel
- ill
- oil
- owl
- able
- axle
- bail
- ball
- bell
- bill
- boil
- bowl
- bull
- call
- cell
- coal
- coil
- cool
- curl
- deal
- dial
- doll
- duel
- dull
- evil
- fail
- fall
- feel
- fell
Minimal Pairs
Questions Students Ask
Is /l/ voiced or voiceless?
/l/ is voiced.
What is the place of articulation of /l/?
/l/ is alveolar, which means the tip or blade of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge, just behind the upper teeth.
What is the manner of articulation of /l/?
/l/ is a lateral, which means the air flows out over the sides of the tongue.
Which words have the /l/ sound?
For example leg, yellow, ball.