English /v/ vs /b/ Sounds: The Essential Guide for Romance Language Speakers

If you speak Spanish, Portuguese, or French, the English /v/ and /b/ sounds probably cause you trouble. You might say "berry" when you mean "very", or "I lobe you" instead of "I love you." This guide will help you understand exactly what is happening in your mouth and how to fix it.

How /v/ and /b/ Are Made

These two sounds are produced in completely different parts of the mouth. Understanding the physical difference is the key to mastering them.

The /b/ Sound: Bilabial Plosive

The /b/ sound is a bilabial plosive, meaning:

• Bilabial: Both lips come together and seal completely
• Plosive: Air pressure builds up behind the closed lips, then releases in a small burst
• Voiced: Your vocal cords vibrate during production

Think of it as a tiny explosion of air between your lips: ball, bed, book.

The /v/ Sound: Labiodental Fricative

The /v/ sound is a labiodental fricative, meaning:

• Labiodental: Your upper teeth gently rest on your lower lip
• Fricative: Air flows continuously through the narrow gap between teeth and lip, creating friction
• Voiced: Your vocal cords vibrate during production

There is no burst of air. Instead, you hear a continuous buzzing: very, voice, love.

Articulation Comparison

Key test: You can hold the /v/ sound for several seconds ("vvvvvvv"), but you cannot hold /b/ -- it is an instant burst.

Why Romance Language Speakers Struggle

Spanish Speakers

Spanish is the most affected language. In Spanish, the letters b and v are pronounced identically. Both produce either a bilabial plosive [b] (at the start of a phrase or after /m/) or a bilabial fricative [β] (between vowels). Crucially, Spanish never uses the labiodental /v/ sound at all. When Spanish speakers encounter English /v/, they substitute their familiar [b] or [β], making "very" sound like "berry" and "vest" sound like "best."

Portuguese Speakers

Portuguese does have a /v/ sound, so speakers have an advantage. However, Brazilian Portuguese speakers sometimes produce /v/ with slightly less teeth-to-lip contact than English requires, making it softer. Additionally, in some Brazilian dialects, /v/ before certain consonants can weaken, which transfers into English pronunciation.

French Speakers

French speakers generally handle /v/ well since French has a clear labiodental /v/. However, some French speakers may over-voice /b/ in certain positions or struggle with /b/ in final position (since French rarely ends words with a released /b/), occasionally producing a weakened sound that blurs the distinction.

Minimal Pairs: /v/ vs /b/

Minimal pairs are word pairs that differ by only one sound. Practice these to train your ear and your mouth:

Key Vocabulary Words with /v/

These are among the most common English words containing /v/. Practice each one carefully, making sure your upper teeth touch your lower lip:

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Here are real-world errors that Romance language speakers frequently make:

• "I lobe you" instead of "I love you" /aɪ lʌv juː/ -- The /v/ in "love" is replaced by /b/
• "berry nice" instead of "very nice" /ˈvɛri naɪs/ -- Initial /v/ becomes /b/
• "I hab a question" instead of "I have a question" /aɪ hæv ə ˈkwɛstʃən/ -- Final /v/ becomes /b/
• "mo-bee" instead of "movie" /ˈmuːvi/ -- Medial /v/ becomes /b/
• "libbing room" instead of "living room" /ˈlɪvɪŋ ruːm/ -- Both /v/ sounds become /b/

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: The Mirror Test

Stand in front of a mirror and alternate between /b/ and /v/:

1. Say /b/ -- watch both lips come together
2. Say /v/ -- watch your top teeth touch your lower lip
3. Alternate: /b/ - /v/ - /b/ - /v/ (slowly, then faster)

Exercise 2: The Hold Test

Try to hold each sound:

1. Hold /v/ for 5 seconds: "vvvvvvvvv" -- you should feel vibration and continuous airflow
2. Try to hold /b/ -- you cannot! It is an instant burst
3. This difference confirms you are making the right sound

Exercise 3: Sentence Practice

Read these sentences aloud, exaggerating the /v/ sounds:

1. Very valuable vegetables are available at every village market.
2. I've never visited that lovely valley before.
3. The driver gave a very positive review.

Exercise 4: Contrast Sentences

Read each pair and make the /v/ and /b/ clearly different:

1. "I need a vet" vs. "I need a bet"
2. "That's my van" vs. "That's my ban"
3. "She wore a veil" vs. "She posted bail"
4. "Cast your vote" vs. "Row the boat"

Tips for Each Language Group

For Spanish Speakers

Your biggest challenge is that Spanish trained you to use the same mouth position for both b and v. You need to break this habit completely. Every time you see the letter v in English, consciously place your upper teeth on your lower lip before making the sound. Exaggerate this position at first -- bite your lip gently, then let the air flow through.

For Portuguese Speakers

You already know where /v/ lives in your mouth, which is a significant advantage. Focus on making your English /v/ slightly more forceful -- ensure firm contact between your teeth and lip. Pay special attention to /v/ at the end of words like "have" /hæv/ and "love" /lʌv/, where it must remain a clear /v/ and not weaken.

For French Speakers

Your /v/ is usually excellent. Focus instead on keeping /b/ strong in final positions. In words like "cab" /kæb/ or "rub" /rʌb/, make sure both lips come together with a clear release. Also watch out for words where /v/ and /b/ appear close together, such as "above" /əˈbʌv/ or "vibrate" /ˈvaɪbreɪt/.

Summary

The difference between /v/ and /b/ comes down to two things: where your lips make contact and how the air moves. For /b/, both lips meet and release a burst. For /v/, your teeth touch your lip and air flows continuously. Practice the minimal pairs daily, use the mirror test, and within a few weeks, the distinction will become automatic.