/b/ vs /v/: berry vs very
The full-stop /b/ and the continuous /v/ separate ban/van, best/vest and boat/vote. Spanish speakers in particular tend to blend the two into one soft sound.
- Medium impact
- 7 pairs
- Three voices
1 / 10
Which word do you hear?
See the difference
/b/ fully closes both lips then releases; /v/ never closes; top teeth rest on the bottom lip while air flows continuously. Hold a long 'vvvv'; you cannot hold a /b/.
b
as in berry
- Lips
- Pressed together
- Tongue
- Resting; the lips do the work
- Voice
- On: feel your throat buzz
- Air
- Stopped, then released in a small burst
v
as in very
- Lips
- Bottom lip under the top teeth
- Tongue
- Resting; top teeth on the bottom lip
- Voice
- On: feel your throat buzz
- Air
- Squeezed through a narrow gap
All 7 pairs
In a sentence
Hardest for speakers of
Questions
What is the difference between berry and very?
berry /ˈberi/ uses the /b/ sound while very /ˈveri/ uses /v/. /b/ fully closes both lips then releases; /v/ never closes; top teeth rest on the bottom lip while air flows continuously. Hold a long 'vvvv'; you cannot hold a /b/.
Which learners find the /b/ vs /v/ contrast hardest?
It is most challenging for Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog speakers, whose first languages don't separate these two sounds.