Speaking · Unit 2: Common mistakes
S13: "Bery good": the v and b sounds
Target band 6 to 6.5
"It was bery good." "I bisited my cousin." "My fabourite food is biryani." Many Bangla speakers say /b/ or a soft /bh/ sound where English needs /v/. Some also swap /v/ and /w/. It's one of the most noticeable sounds in Bangladeshi English. The good news is that it's easy to fix with a little daily practice.
Why this matters
Pronunciation is a quarter of your Speaking score. One sound might seem small, but /v/ appears in very common words: very, have, of, visit, village, university, government, never. If it's unclear, the examiner hears it again and again.
Why it happens
Bangla doesn't have the English /v/ sound. The Bangla letter ржн is closer to a breathy /bh/, made with both lips. English /v/ is made differently, using the top teeth and the bottom lip.
How to make the /v/ sound
- Gently put your top teeth on your bottom lip.
- Push air out and make your voice buzz.
- You should feel a vibration on your lip.
Compare:
- /b/: both lips close and open. ban, best, boat
- /v/: top teeth touch the bottom lip. van, vest, vote
- /w/: lips round, like a small circle, with no teeth. wan, west, wet
A mirror trick
Practise in front of a mirror. For /v/, you should be able to see your top teeth touching your bottom lip. For /b/, your lips close completely. For /w/, your lips make a round shape.
Minimal pairs: practise these out loud
| /b/ | /v/ | /w/ |
|---|---|---|
| ban | van | wan |
| best | vest | west |
| boat | vote | wrote (silent w) |
| berry | very | wary |
| bet | vet | wet |
Say each row slowly, then quickly. Record yourself and listen.
Common words to practise
very, have, of, visit, village, university, government, never, every, river, invite, travel, vegetable, festival, favourite, develop, environment, live, love, give
Practice sentences
- "I visit my village every five months."
- "My favourite vegetable is very cheap in winter."
- "The government should invest in universities."
Say each sentence slowly three times, then at normal speed.
Try it yourself
Record yourself saying: "I have never travelled to a very big river village." Listen carefully. Did every /v/ sound clear?
Honest note
You'll get it right when you focus, then slip back when speaking fast or feeling nervous. That's normal. Daily practice for two or three weeks usually makes the new sound automatic.
Your task today
Practise the minimal pairs table for 5 minutes in front of a mirror. Then record the practice sentences.