How to Pronounce the Dark L in American English (B1–B2 Listening Practice)

🗣️ In this episode of the Learn English Podcast, we explore one of the most confusing pronunciation differences in American English: the Dark L vs. the Light L

– Learn why many English learners struggle with the Dark L sound – Understand the difference between Light L (love, light) and Dark L (ball, full) – Hear how to correctly place your tongue, lips, and jaw for natural pronunciation – Practice real examples like: ball, full, milk, world, people, subtle, bottle, and little – Learn the rules for when the Dark L appears in words – Improve your listening comprehension and accent clarity in real-life English

This episode is perfect for B1–B2 English learners who want to improve pronunciation, reduce their accent, and sound more natural when speaking American English.

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📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Unique – One of a kind; unlike anything else.

2) Stress – The emphasis placed on a certain part of a word or sentence.

3) Syllable – A unit of sound in a word, often containing a vowel.

4) Hard palate – The hard area on the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth.

5) Clear (or light) L sound – The “L” sound made at the beginning of words, such as light or love.

6) Dark L sound – The “L” sound made at the end of words, such as ball or full, where the tongue curls back.

7) Opposite – Completely different from something else.

8) Unstressed – A syllable or part of a word that is not emphasized when spoken.

9) Accent reduction - The process of changing one's pronunciation to sound closer to a specific, desired accent.

10) To aim for - To intend or try to achieve something.