V Word List for Speech Therapy

V Word List with Articulation Tips & Functional Practice Ideas

The /v/ sound is a later-developing speech sound that requires precise lip–teeth placement and voicing. This v word list for speech therapy supports accurate production, structured practice, and carryover into everyday speech.

This page is designed for speech-language pathologists and caregivers who want practical ways to practice /v/ beyond drills and worksheets.

According to McLeod, S. & Crowe, K. (2018), a child should be able to say V by 4 years of age. 

How This V Word List Supports Articulation Therapy

On this page, you’ll find:

• A clear v word list (initial, medial, final positions)
• Simple explanations for how to say /v/
• Functional articulation activities that fit into daily routines
• Practice ideas that support generalization
• Optional next steps for articulation and language support

V Word List for Speech Therapy

Use these words during play, routines, sentence building, and structured practice.

How to Say the /V/ Sound

The /v/ sound is a voiced labiodental fricative.

To produce /v/:

• Place the upper teeth on the lower lip
• Blow air gently
• Turn the voice on

Helpful cues:

• “Bite your lip and turn your voice on”
• Contrast /f/ vs. /v/ so the child can feel voicing
• Use a mirror so the child can see lip placement

Children who substitute /f/ for /v/ often need extra awareness of voicing.

Functional Articulation Practice for /V/

Because /v/ is a later-developing sound, practice should be intentional and functional, especially at the word and sentence level.

Try these no-flashcard articulation ideas:

• Voice – Say “voice” before singing or humming
• Vanilla – Talk about vanilla ice cream flavors
• Vet – Pretend to take a stuffed animal to the vet
• River – Pretend to row a boat in a river
• Over – Jump over sidewalk cracks
• Driving – Narrate actions while driving toy cars
• Diving – Make bath toys dive underwater
• Five – Give high fives
• Wave – Wave hello and goodbye
• Glove – Match gloves from a basket

Take turns listening and producing accurate /v/ sounds. For more tips on articulation, check out this page.

Want to See How I Teach Articulation?

If you’d like a clear example of how I structure articulation therapy, grab my free /s/ articulation packet.

Even though it focuses on /s/, the teaching strategies, cueing approach, and practice structure apply to any sound—including later-developing sounds like /v/.

Inside the free /s/ packet:

• Visual placement cues
• Simple, effective teaching strategies
• Practice pages designed for carryover and generalization
• A clear model for articulation session structure

Looking for Support with /V/ and Other Sounds?

The Speech Therapy Talk Membership includes articulation and language materials designed to support:

• Sound acquisition
• Sentence- and conversation-level practice
• Generalization across settings

Members have access to:

• Articulation screening tools
• Data tracking sheets
• Parent handouts
• Functional articulation games
• Language-based articulation activities

All materials are designed to be simple, flexible, and clinically meaningful.