Speech sound guide · /l/ as in “lion”
My child can’t say the L sound
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The short answer
In a large review of US studies, 90% of children said L correctly by about 4 years 6 months. Younger children often swap in W or Y (“wion” or “yion” for lion). If it continues past that age, ask a speech-language pathologist.
Most children say it by about 4½ (90% by 4 years 6 months)
How the L sound is made
L is made by touching the tongue tip to the ridge just behind the top front teeth and letting the voice flow out over the sides of the tongue.
Common ways children say it differently
- Uses W or Y instead of L
- “wion” or “yion” for lion, “yeg” for leg. Like R, this is called gliding.
- A dark or swallowed L at the end of words
- “baw” for ball. Common while L is still developing.
What the age means, and what it doesn’t
“90% by 4 years 6 months” means that in the pooled studies, nine in ten children said L correctly by that age. About one in ten children who are developing typically get there later, so it’s a guide for when to ask, not a deadline. Ages come from US children learning English.
When to ask a speech therapist about L
- Your child is past about about 4½ and still swaps or distorts L.
- People outside the family often find your child hard to understand, or your child is frustrated or teased about how they talk.
- You’re worried. You don’t need to wait for a set age to ask.
More signs: Does my child need speech therapy? In the US, you can ask for a free speech evaluation, or find a certified SLP through ASHA ProFind.
L practice words
At the start
lion, leaf, lamp, leg
In the middle
yellow, balloon, jelly, pillow
At the end
ball, bell, apple, owl
Use the words your child’s SLP picks first. For keeping practice low-pressure, see how to help at home, and for why a sound can work in sessions before it shows up in conversation, see carryover.
Questions parents ask about L
When should my child say L?
In the 2020 review of US studies, 90% of children said L correctly by about 4 years 6 months.
Are L and R problems connected?
Both are often replaced by W while they develop (called gliding). L usually comes about a year earlier than R.