A parent-friendly guide to practicing the V sound at home — how it's made, what's typical, words to use and a routine that fits into five minutes.
How the V sound is made
V is made like F — top teeth lightly on the bottom lip — but with the voice turned on, so it buzzes.
Have your child say a long F, then "turn the motor on" so it buzzes into V, like a vacuum cleaner.
Common substitutions
B or F for V ("ban" for van) is common. Children whose first language is Spanish often use B, because Spanish B and V sound the same.
What's typical by age
Many U.S. children produce V reliably around age 5.
Every child is different, and age ranges from research are guides, not deadlines. If your child is frustrated, hard to understand, or you're unsure, ask a speech-language pathologist.
V words to practice
Start with words your child already knows and likes. Mix positions once the start of the word feels easy.
V at the start of words
van, vest, vet, vine, violin, volcano
V in the middle of words
seven, river, shovel, oven, clover
V at the end of words
five, love, glove, cave, stove
Short phrases
five violet vans
a glove by the stove
seven vines
A five-minute routine
Say the word clearly and a little slowly — let your child hear it first
Invite one or two tries; no more than that per word
Praise the effort ("great try!"), not only the perfect ones
Ten words is a full session — stop while it's still fun
Same time most days beats a long session once a week
Game idea: Vacuum buzz
Your child is the vacuum. Each V word, they buzz and "clean up" one toy from the floor.
Practice V with SoundSprout
In SoundSprout, V is the world of Mittenmoss Meadow, guided by Milo the Mole. Pick it as your child's practice sound and they get a new ten-word mission every day, with each word modeled by a warm narrator. SoundSprout is not speech therapy. It does not diagnose, evaluate or treat speech disorders, and it does not replace a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP). It supports home practice.
Frequently asked questions
My child speaks Spanish and English and says 'bery' for very. Is that normal?
Yes. In Spanish, B and V are pronounced the same, so this is a common, expected pattern when learning English, not a sign of a disorder on its own.
How long should we practice V each day?
About five minutes, most days. Short, frequent sessions are easier to keep up and tend to work better than occasional long ones.
Can SoundSprout tell if my child is saying it right?
No. SoundSprout rewards effort and does not score pronunciation. Children's voices are not recorded or uploaded.
SoundSprout is guided daily practice for one speech sound: ten words, about five minutes, with a warm voice modeling every word. Up to five children per account.
SoundSprout