96 Go to /l-r/ Comparison Watch Video Lesson Go to /n-l/ Comparison The Two L Sounds
There are two L sounds in English. Explore the differences below: Light L
Dark L
Feel
1. Sides of the tongue are not touching anything. 2. Back of tongue is down. 3. Tip of the tongue touches the gum ridge.
Hear Problems?
- Sounds lighter/brighter (or higher-pitched). - Sounds closer to an /iː/ vowel (like in the word FLEECE).
- Check back of tongue is relaxed (yawn if it is raised). - Check throat is relaxed.
1. Sides of the tongue are not touching anything. 2. Back of tongue is raised. 3. Tip of the tongue can touch the gum ridge or it can be down by the lower front teeth.
- Sounds darker (or lower-pitched). - Sounds closer to an /uː/ vowel (like in the word GHOUL).
- Check back of tongue is raised (say an /uː/ vowel like in GHOUL or an /ɔː/ vowel like in NORTH to help raise it).
- Check lips are relaxed. They are not rounded and they are not compressing (i.e. moving together).
IPA symbol /l/ (this sound is also called Clear L)
/l/ in most dictionaries (so exactly the same as the Light L). However it can be represented as [ɫ] in narrow phonetic transcription.
