Dark L vs. Light L: The Two L Sounds You Never Knew Existed

Here's something that might surprise you: English has two different L sounds, and you've probably never been taught about them. Say "like" and "milk" slowly. Notice anything different about the L sounds? Most native speakers don't consciously realize it, but these are completely different sounds!

The Two L's of English

English uses two types of L:

Light L (clear L) - used at the beginning of syllables

- Examples: like, love, believe, alone

Dark L (velarized L) - used at the end of syllables

- Examples: milk, feel, hello, beautiful

The difference is subtle but important for sounding natural!

Why This Matters for Spanish Speakers

Spanish only has one L sound—and it's similar to English's light L. When Spanish speakers use this light L everywhere in English, words like "milk," "help," and "full" sound different from how native speakers say them.

How to Make Light L (Clear L)

Light L is probably familiar to you. It's similar to Spanish "l":

Touch your tongue tip to the ridge behind your upper teeth (alveolar ridge)

Let air flow around the sides of your tongue

Keep your tongue tip forward

Sound: "la la la"

Where it appears: At the start of words or syllables

• love
• learn
• believe
• alarm

How to Make Dark L (Velarized L)

Dark L is new for most Spanish speakers. Here's how to make it:

Touch your tongue tip to the ridge (like light L)

BUT ALSO raise the back of your tongue toward the soft palate (velum)

The sound feels "thicker" or more "back" in your mouth

Sound: It has an "ul" or "ol" quality

Where it appears: At the end of words or syllables

• feel
• milk
• full
• beautiful

The Key Difference: Tongue Position

Practice: Feel the Difference

Say these words and feel how your tongue changes:

Now try this word that has BOTH:

"little" = little

• First L: light (tongue tip only)
• Second L: dark (back of tongue raised)

More Words with Both L's

Common Dark L Words

These words all have dark L at the end:

Single-Syllable Words

Words with L + Consonant

These are especially challenging—dark L before another consonant:

The "UL" Quality of Dark L

A helpful trick: Dark L sounds almost like it has a vowel before it. Listen to how native speakers often pronounce:

This "ul" quality comes from raising the back of your tongue.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Using Light L Everywhere

Wrong: "milk" with a bright, clear L (like Spanish) Right: "milk" with a dark, back-of-mouth L Fix: Raise the back of your tongue for L's at the end of syllables.

Mistake 2: Dropping the L

Some speakers just omit the L in words like "milk" or "help."

Wrong: "mik" for milk Right: "miɫk" with full dark L Fix: Keep your tongue tip touching the ridge while making the dark L.

Mistake 3: Making All L's Dark

Wrong: Using dark L at the beginning of words ("ɫove") Right: Using light L at the beginning ("love") Fix: Only use dark L at the END of syllables.

Mistake 4: Not Raising the Back of the Tongue

Wrong: Making dark L with only the tongue tip Right: Raising BOTH the tip AND the back of the tongue

Practice Sentences

Focus on the dark L sounds in these sentences:

I feel full after eating all that food.

Please help me call my little brother.

The child drank milk and went to sleep.

It's cold outside, so put on your purple scarf.

I will tell you the whole story.

The beautiful girl has a wonderful smile.

People from all over the world came to the festival**.

I feel well and I'm really happy.

Tongue Twisters

Practice these to master both L sounds:

"Little lady loves lovely lilies."

(Light L practice)

"Will will call the tall ballplayer."

(Dark L practice)

"Local people sell legal labels."

(Both L sounds)

"All the children drank cold milk."

"The yellow bell fell in the well."

Quick Test: Light or Dark?

Identify which L is used in these words:

Regional Variations

Dark L varies by accent:

• American English: Very noticeable dark L
• British English: Dark L is less velarized in some accents
• Irish English: Often uses light L everywhere
• Australian English: Strong dark L, sometimes sounds like "w"

No matter which English you're learning, understanding both L sounds helps you understand different speakers!

Why This Matters

Mastering dark L helps you:

Sound more natural and fluent

Be understood more easily

Pronounce common words correctly (milk, feel, help, all)

Understand native speakers better

The difference is subtle but makes a big impact on how natural your English sounds!

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