We are talking about the “L” sound today.

The name of the letter is L (like the name Elle).

We write the sound it makes like this, /l/.

First, we’ll start by making the sound all by itself, or the sound in isolation.

L in Isolation

Make the /l/ sound.

What did you do with your mouth?

Did you feel your tongue move up behind your teeth?

This is the most common way to make the “L” sound.

Some people will fold the tip (very end) of their tongue back against the roof of their mouth.

Either way is fine as long as you can say the sound clearly.

The most common error we hear is when someone substitutes a W for L, as in “wike” for “like”.

A speech therapist may refer to this as the Phonological Process of Gliding, or substituting a /w/ or /y/ for /l/ or /r/.

Here are some tips if your child is over 4 and still having a hard time making this sound:

First, we always want to make sure your child has normal hearing. If you have any concerns about hearing loss, please consult your pediatrician.
Can your child tell the difference between the /l/ and /w/ sounds?
Say some L words with the /l/ sound and some with the /w/ sound. Can they tell you which sounds right and which doesn’t?
Model for them how the /l/ sound is made. Show them how you lift your tongue up behind your teeth.
Can they imitate you in words like “Lee” (beginning of the word) or “Call” (end of the word)?

Some children just need some direct instruction on what to do and will pick it up with a little practice.

You can reach out to a speech therapist if your child needs more support.