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WH words

WH is pronounced as W in most words (what, where, when), but as H when the vowel is O (who, whole, whose), and some Scottish, Irish and older American speakers keep a breathy hw in which. The safest default for learners is a plain W except before O. Listen for the O words breaking the pattern.

Accent

15 words · beginner · your accent and voice are remembered across the site. More options on the settings page.

The words

what
where
when
why
which
white
while
wheel
whale
who
whose
whole
whom
whether
whisper

More lists like this

Final consonant words
Words that must not lose their ending: cold, hand, act, felt. Practise finishing every consonant.
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Number and date words
Thirteen or thirty? Fifteen or fifty? The stress is the only clue. Hear the pairs contrasted.
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Words that lose a syllable
Chocolate, comfortable, vegetable: fewer syllables than the spelling suggests. Hear the real count.
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Voiced TH words
The buzzing TH in this, that and mother. Feel your vocal cords vibrate on every one of these.
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Voiceless TH words
The soft breathy TH in think, three and mouth. No vocal cord buzz, just airflow over the tongue.
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R vs L minimal pairs
Rice or lice, right or light. Hear the R and L contrast that trips up many learners, pair by pair.
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Keep practising

Browse every practice list or the word index, hear two accents back to back on Compare, or test your ear with the listening quiz.

To read the rules behind these words, see the pronunciation guides — including silent letters, word stress and American vs British. Or hear each accent on its own page: American, British, Australian.