Sound Safari
Speech Sound Guide
The L Sound: Norms, Challenges & Word Lists
The /l/ sound typically develops by age 5. This guide covers when /l/ develops, what typically goes wrong, simple ways to practice it, and over 85 /l/ words organized by position.
When should a child say /l/?
Developmental norms — when the /l/ sound typically emerges and is mastered.
Source: McLeod & Crowe (2018), AJSLP.
A child still substituting or distorting /l/ after age 5 is a good candidate for a speech-language evaluation — earlier if they're hard to understand or frustrated.
Find out where /l/ stands — in 5 minutes
Sound Safari's 23-sound screener checks against the McLeod & Crowe norms above.
Common challenges with /l/
What typically goes wrong — and whether it's age-appropriate.
Gliding
/l/ → /w/
Typically resolves on its own by around age 6; worth a check-in if it persists.
What helps →
Open the mouth wide and watch in a mirror so the lips don't round to /w/; cue "tongue up to the bumpy spot."
How to practice the /l/ sound
Practical starting points for parents and SLPs. Always follow your SLP's plan if your child is in therapy.
- 1 Find the bumpy spot. /l/ is made by touching the tongue tip to the "bumpy spot" just behind the top front teeth (the alveolar ridge). Have your child feel for it with their tongue.
- 2 Hold and hum. /l/ is a liquid — it can be held continuously. Practice "lllll" while looking in a mirror, watching the tongue tip stay touching the bumpy spot.
- 3 Open the mouth. Younger kids sometimes glide /l/ to /w/ because they barely open their lips. Keeping the mouth open and the lips relaxed (not rounded) prevents the slip to /w/.
- 4 Build out from "la la la". Once "llll" works in isolation, attach it to easy vowels: "la, la, la", then "lay", "low", "line". Use the initial words above next.
- 5 Slow down for final /l/. Final /l/ ("ball", "pool") is harder because the tongue has to land back at the bumpy spot. Slow exaggerated practice with a mirror helps the child feel the landing.
/l/ word lists by position over 85 words
Every word from the Sound Safari practice library. The /l/ in each word is bolded.
Initial — /l/ at the start of the word (29)
Medial — /l/ in the middle of the word (29)
Final — /l/ at the end of the word (29)
IEP goals for /l/
A starting point for SLPs writing articulation goals — across the six therapy levels.
Goal progression — tap a level to see the goal
Sample goal — word level
"Given a verbal model, [student] will produce /l/ in the initial position of words with 80% accuracy across 3 consecutive sessions."
Track /l/ progress automatically
Sound Safari logs every trial against your goals and writes the SOAP note for you.
/l/ sound — frequently asked questions
At what age should my child say the /l/ sound? +
Most children produce /l/ correctly by age 5. About half can do it by age 4. Saying "w" for "l" ("wamp" for "lamp") is normal until around age 4–5.
Is it normal for my child to say "w" for "l"? +
Yes — replacing /l/ with /w/ is called gliding and is developmentally typical through about age 4–5. If it continues past age 5, it's worth a check-in with an SLP.
Why is the /l/ sound so hard? +
/l/ requires the tongue tip to land on a specific spot (the bumpy ridge behind the top teeth) and stay there, which takes more tongue control than most early sounds.
How can I help my child practice /l/ at home? +
Help them feel the bumpy spot with their tongue tip, practice holding "llll" in a mirror, then chain it to "la, la, la" before whole words. Use the word lists above.
When should we see a speech therapist about /l/? +
If /l/ is still being replaced with /w/ or /y/ after age 5, or earlier if your child is hard to understand.
Can older children and adults still correct /l/? +
Yes. /l/ is treatable at any age. Most older kids and adults make rapid progress once they feel the right tongue placement.
Related sounds
Sounds that pair, contrast, or are commonly confused with /l/.
