This section is your comprehensive hub for everything related to English approximant sounds—/l/, /r/, /w/, and /j/ (as in "yes")—within the context of articulatory speech therapy. You'll find in-depth resources on how each sound is developed and practiced, including tongue placement cues, visual aids, and therapy strategies tailored to common challenges. Explore interactive online tools, downloadable PDFs, printable worksheets, and word banks specifically designed for approximant sounds. Whether you're a speech-language pathologist, educator, or parent, this section offers everything needed to support clear, confident speech using these fluid, often tricky sounds.

Approximants are speech sounds made by bringing two speech organs close together, but not close enough to create turbulent airflow or friction. They are smoother and more vowel-like than other consonants. English approximants include /w/, /j/ (as in "yes"), /l/, and /ɹ/ (as in "red"). These sounds are all voiced and are often used in speech to create smooth transitions between other sounds.

• "L" /l/ – Voiced Alveolar Lateral Approximant  - by syllable & position → Download /l/ Word List (PDF)
• "R" /ɹ/ – Voiced Post-Alveolar Approximant  - by syllable & position → Download /ɹ/ Word List (PDF)
• "Y" /j/ – Voiced Palatal Approximant  - by syllable & position → Download /j/ Word List (PDF)
• "W" /w/ – Voiced Labio-Velar Approximant  - by syllable & position → Download /w/ Word List (PDF)