9-1 /h/ /hw/ /f/ Sounds

To make the /h/ sound, breathe out and let your lips and tongue assume the position of the vowel which will follow in the word. Try these words to feel the different position allowed for /h/: heat hat hoot hot. In fact, /h/ is often known as a voiceless vowel: you don't vibrate your vocal cords, but you do make an aspirated sound in the back of your throat. It is the same sound which is made when a person is cleaning glass and 'blows' warm air onto it.

To make the / hw / sound, just make a short /h/ and then go immediately into a /w/ . Work with a partner to say these words.

Listen to the following words and repeat.

Listen to the following word pairs. Repeat them, being careful to make the distinction between the two sounds.

Discuss with other students: What other words can you think of that have this sound?