Thinkabara🦁 The L sound: articulation words & activities
Everything you need to practice the L sound /l/: 64 words at the beginning, middle and end of words (each with a picture and audio), blends, phrases, sentences, a short story and printable L articulation worksheets.
How to make the L sound
- Open the mouth a little and lift the tongue tip to the bump behind the top teeth.
- Hold it there and turn the voice on: "lllll".
- Drop the tongue into a vowel: "lll-ah" → la.
L words — beginning of the word 16
L words — middle of the word 16
L words — end of the word 16
L words — blends 16
Tap any picture to hear the word (uses your device's built-in voice).
Practice mode and printable L worksheets
Pick a level and position, then open the big-card practice mode or print picture cards, bingo boards, a memory game, a home practice log or a word list.
Phrases
- little lion
- lemon lollipop
- yellow balloon
- blue bell
- look up
- lots of leaves
- sleepy owl
- play ball
Sentences
- The lion licks a lollipop.
- Look at the yellow balloon.
- The ladybug is on a leaf.
- Lily likes lemons.
- The owl sleeps all day.
- I hear a little bell.
- The whale is in the ocean.
- Leo climbs the ladder.
📖 Short story: Lily and the Lost Balloon
Lily had a lovely yellow balloon. She held it all the way to the lake. Then — whoosh! — the wind pulled it loose. "Hello? Has anyone seen my balloon?" Lily called. A little ladybug on a leaf said, "Look up!" An owl on a log said, "Look left!" A lion licking a lollipop said, "Look over the hill!" Lily climbed the hill. There, stuck in a tall tree, was her yellow balloon. Lily laughed, pulled it down gently and tied it to her wrist. "Let's go home," she said.
Read it together slowly. Pause on each L word and let your child say it, or ask who, what and where questions.
About the L sound
L is made by lifting the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the top front teeth while the voice is on and air flows around the sides of the tongue.
Young children often say "w" or "y" for L ("yeyo" for yellow) — this is called gliding and usually fades by itself. L at the end of a word ("dark L", as in ball) feels different from L at the start, so practice them separately.
When do children learn it? Most children (about 90%) produce the L sound by around age 4–5, according to a 2020 review of US studies (Crowe & McLeod). Every child is different — see the speech sound development chart.
🎲 Practice games
Lollipop lick
Put a dab of yogurt or peanut butter (check allergies!) on the bump behind the top teeth. The child finds it with the tongue tip — that is the L spot. Then say "la-la-la".
Ladder climb
Draw a ladder with 8 rungs. Each L word moves a paper figure up one rung.
Bingo and memory
Print the bingo boards (each one is different) and the caller cards. Whoever calls a card says the word; players say it again as they cover the square.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Keep sessions short and playful: 5–10 minutes a day beats one long session a week.
- Go step by step: sound alone → syllables → words → phrases → sentences → the story → conversation. If it gets hard, go back one step.
- Model the word correctly instead of correcting ("Yes, a rabbit!").
- Blowing and tongue exercises without speech ("oral-motor exercises") have not been shown to improve speech sounds. Practicing the sound itself is what helps.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should a child say the L sound?
In a 2020 review of US studies (Crowe & McLeod), about 90% of children produced L /l/ by around age 4–5. That is a range, not a deadline — many children master it earlier, and some later. If you are worried, talk to a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).
How do I practice the L sound at home?
Practice for 5–10 minutes a day, a little at a time. Start with whatever level is easy (a single sound, then words, phrases, sentences and the story). Say the word correctly yourself and let your child copy you — don't ask them to "say it right". If your child sees an SLP, follow their plan and practice the words they choose.
Which position should we start with?
Usually the position the child finds easiest. For many sounds that is the beginning of the word, but not always — an SLP will test which words and positions are stimulable (easy to imitate) for your child.
Are these printable articulation worksheets free?
Yes. Every word list, card set, bingo board and home practice log on this page is free to print on US Letter paper, with no sign-up.
More speech sounds
Related pages
All speech therapy activitiesMinimal pairsArticulation card makerHome practice sheets