Unit 2.1
Letter: w
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Introduction
The letter w has different pronunciations depending on its position inside words.
Form
The letter w can be pronounced differently depending on its position in the word and the letters that follow.
| Uppercase | Lowercase | Phonology |
| W | w | /w/ or /aʊ/ |
| WH | wh | /w/ or /h/ |
| WR | wr | /r/ |
Example
- -w at the end of the word:
- how;
- know;
- rainbow.
- wh– before i, a, e:
- whale;
- wheel;
- white.
- wh- before o:
- who;
- whole;
- wholesale.
- wr-:
- wrap;
- write;
- wrong.
Use
When w is the last letter of a word is pronounced as /aʊ/ (ou)
- -w = /aʊ/
When w is together with h (wh) and they are at the beginning of the word and followed by i, a, e, the pronunciation is /w/. In contrast, if the letter that follows is o, it is pronounced aspirated as /h/.
- wh- + a, i, e = /w/
- wh- + o = /h/
When w is together with r (wr) and they are at the beginning of the word, the pronunciation is /r/.
- wr- = /r/
Exercises
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