How is the letter V pronounced in English?

English phonetics is very interesting. If you think about it, there are many sounds that don’t exist in Spanish, but that doesn’t mean it’s difficult. It’s simply important to dedicate some specific time to understand the sounds of the language and you will see that phonetics becomes a very good tool to improve your pronunciation.

In this case, as we said before, English phonetics will help us remember that the sound of v in English is transcribed as /v/ and that it is a voiced labiodental sound. Remember, it is very different from how we produce the /b/ sound in Spanish, which is labial and voiced. Think about the correct pronunciation of ‘vaso’ and pay attention to how you pronounce the /v/ sound. There it is, that is the pronunciation of v in English!

Here is a table with examples of English words that differ only by having the letter b or the letter v, and which in Spanish would be pronounced very similarly. In English, they sound completely different.

Below you have some example sentences to read aloud and practice the pronunciation of the letter v in English.  

You will also find many words with the letter b so you gradually differentiate the sound of the two phonemes. 

1. I’m very busy today, but I’ll try to make time for our appointment because I’m very excited about it. 

(I’m very busy today, but I’ll try to make time for our appointment because I’m very excited about it.)

/aɪm ˈvɛri ˈbɪzi təˈdeɪ, bʌt aɪl traɪ tuː meɪk taɪm fɔːr ˈaʊər əˈpɔɪntmənt bɪˈkɒz aɪm ˈvɛri ɪkˈsaɪtɪd əˈbaʊt ɪt./only if they have the letter b or the letter v

2. When I was very young I read a book collection about a bat who worked as an inspector. I remember a story about a crime that happened in a boat, and the main character was wearing a life-vest. 

(When I was very young I read a book collection about a bat who worked as a detective. I remember a story about a crime that happened on a boat, and the main character was wearing a life vest.)

/wɛn aɪ wɒz jʌŋ aɪ riːd ə bʊk kəˈlɛkʃən əˈbaʊt ə bæt huː wɜːkt æz ən ɪnˈspɛktə. aɪ rɪˈmɛmbər ə ˈstɔːri əˈbaʊt ə kraɪm ðæt ˈhæpənd ɪn ə bəʊt, ænd ðə meɪn ˈkærɪktə wɒz ˈweərɪŋ ə laɪf-vɛst./

3. I’m very happy about our summer vacation next year. We are going to visit the village where my great grandparents were born and raised. 

(I’m very happy about our summer vacation next year. We are going to visit the village where my great grandparents were born and raised.)

/aɪm ˈvɛri ˈhæpi əˈbaʊt ˈaʊə ˈsʌmə vəˈkeɪʃən nɛkst jɪə. wiː ɑː ˈgəʊɪŋ tuː ˈvɪzɪt ðə ˈvɪlɪʤ weə maɪ greɪt ˈgrænˌpeərənts wɜː bɔːn ænd reɪzd./

4. I love climbing this mountain, the view is so beautiful, I always take nice pictures here.  

(I love climbing this mountain, the view is so beautiful, I always take nice pictures here.)

/aɪ lʌv ˈklaɪmɪŋ ðɪs ˈmaʊntɪn, ðə vjuː ɪz səʊ ˈbjuːtəfʊl, aɪ ˈɔːlweɪz teɪk naɪs ˈpɪkʧəz hɪə./