W - LOWER CASE W




Voiced labio-velar central approximant.

When we pronounce it, the soft palate is in its raised position. The vocal folds vibrate. The back of the tongue is raised towards the soft palate.

Spelling

<w> win /wɪn/
<wh> when /wen/
<u> quite /kwaɪt/

Examples

what /wɒt/


quick /kwɪk/


when /wen/


window /ˈwɪndəʊ/


while /waɪl/


quite /kwaɪt/


question /ˈkwestʃən/


woman /ˈwʊmən/


This wet weather worries me, I wonder when it will stop.
/ ðɪs 'wet ˈweðə ˈwʌrɪz mi: ˈaɪ ˈwʌndə wen ɪt wɪl 'stɒp/



The first sound in ‘wood’, ‘woman’, and ‘wool’ is the same as in ‘wed’, ‘women’ and ‘well’.
/ðə 'fɜ:st ˈsaʊnd ɪn 'wʊd ˈwʊmən ənd 'wʊl z ðə seɪm əz ɪn 'wed ˈwɪmɪn ənd 'wel/



Wise whales keep away from the windy west coast.
/'waɪz 'weɪlz 'ki:p əˈweɪ frəm ðə ˈwɪ ndi 'westkəʊst/



While we were walking, we were watching window washers wash Washington's windows with warm washing water.
/waɪl wi wə ˈwɔ:kɪŋ wi wə ˈwɒtʃɪŋ ˈwɪndəʊ ˈwɒʃəz 'wɒʃ ˈwɑ:ʃɪŋtənz ˈwɪndəʊz wɪð 'wɔ:m ˈwɒʃɪŋ ˈwɔ:tə/

Pronunciation

The soft palate is in its raised position. The vocal folds vibrate. The back of the tongue is raised towards the soft palate.




wa - Lower case w + lower case a

Rising diphthong.

The first sound is a semiconsonant, closer than the following vowel. When we pronounce it, the tongue is raised towards the palate, its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of /u/. It is a quick articulation.

The tongue moves from a close position to an open position. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.

Spelling

<ua>

Examples

aguacero



cuadrilla



ascua



El agua de la vaguada bajaba adecuadamente.

Pronunciation





The first sound is a semiconsonant, closer than the following vowel. When we pronounce it, the tongue is raised towards the palate, its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of /u/. It is a quick articulation.

The tongue moves from a close position to an open position. The vocal folds vibrate.





we - Lower case w + lower case e

Rising diphthong.

The first sound is a semiconsonant, closer than the following vowel. When we pronounce it, the tongue is raised towards the palate, its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of /u/. It is a quick articulation. The tongue moves from a close position to an open position. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.

Spelling

<ue>

Examples

huerto



abuelo



Fue de buen agüero ganar ese juego.

Pronunciation




The first sound is a semiconsonant, closer than the following vowel. When we pronounce it, the tongue is raised towards the palate, its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of /u/. It is a quick articulation.

The tongue moves from a close position to an open position. The vocal folds vibrate.




wo - Lower case w + lower case o

Rising diphthong.

The first sound is a semiconsonant, closer than the following vowel. When we pronounce it, the tongue is raised towards the palate, its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of /u/. It is a quick articulation.

The tongue moves from a close position to an open position. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.

Spelling

<uo>

Examples

cuota



acuoso



Un monstruo bullicioso llegó por un camino tortuoso.

Pronunciation





The first sound is a semiconsonant, closer than the following vowel. When we pronounce it, the tongue is raised towards the palate, its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of /u/. It is a quick articulation.

The tongue moves from a close position to an open position. The vocal folds vibrate.




wi - Lower case w + lower case i

Rising diphthong.

The first sound is a semiconsonant, closer than the following vowel. When we pronounce it, the tongue is raised towards the palate, its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of /u/. It is a quick articulation.

The tongue moves from a close position to an open position. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.

Spelling

<ui>

Examples

gratuito



luis



El buitre cuidó el nido cuidadosamente.

Pronunciation




The first sound is a semiconsonant, closer than the following vowel. When we pronounce it, the tongue is raised towards the palate, its pronunciation is similar to the pronunciation of /u/. It is a quick articulation.

The tongue moves from a close position to an open position. The vocal folds vibrate.