/v/ vs /b/ - The Sound of English (2024)

If your mother tongue is Spanish, you may confuse the sounds /v/ and /b/ in English. Listen to these two words:

bowel vowel

So what is the difference?

• /b/ is a plosive sound – you block the air fully with both lips and then release it.
• /v/ is a fricative sound – you squeeze the air between the top teeth and lower lip.
• Both sounds are voiced.
• English indicates which of these sounds is to be pronounced in the spelling (except ‘of’ pronounced /əv/).

Drill: Sounds

ba aba ab
va ava av
bavab vabav

Drill: Words

bowel vowel
vine bine
ban van
vroom broom
jive jibe
rove robe

Drill: Sentences

A very beautiful berry.
Hoover the bathroom.
I love to rove the Balkans.
Basically, we’ve broken the blind.
It’s vastly better than before, Vicky.