If you’ve ever looked at a map of Wales, or perhaps a road sign while driving through the valleys, you’ve no doubt seen it:

The double L.

It’s everywhere in the Welsh language.

You see it in place names like Llanelli, Llandudno, and the incredibly long Llanfairpwllgwyngyll.

For many beginners, the LL sound is an intimidating part of reading Welsh.

Because this sound doesn’t really exist in English, many learners panic and just guess how to say it. They might pronounce it like a ‘K’ or a ‘Th’, but these are incorrect.

The good news is that the LL sound is actually quite easy to make once you know the physical trick behind it. You don’t need a special talent to do it; you just need to know where to put your tongue.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to make the sound, how to avoid common mistakes, and give you some words to practice with.

How to pronounce the LL sound

The technical name for this sound is a “voiceless alveolar lateral fricative.”

That sounds very complicated, doesn’t it?

Let’s make it simple.

Think of the LL as a hissed version of the letter ‘L’.

When you say a normal English ‘L’ (like in the word Lion), you use your vocal cords. You make a humming sound in your throat.

The Welsh LL is almost the same tongue position, but you do not use your vocal cords. It is purely the sound of air escaping your mouth.

Many people describe it as sounding like an angry goose or a hissing cat.

Step-by-step technique

Here is the easiest way to find the sound. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Say the word “Leaf”. Freeze your tongue exactly where it is when you start the word ‘L’. Your tongue tip should be pressing against the ridge of gum just behind your top front teeth.

2. Hold that position. Keep the tip of your tongue firmly pressed against that spot behind your teeth. Do not move it.

3. Lift the sides of your tongue. This happens naturally, but ensure the sides of your tongue are near your upper back teeth.

4. Blow air out. Now, without making a voice sound (no humming!), blow air hard out of your mouth. Because your tongue tip is blocking the front, the air has to rush out the sides of your mouth.

5. Listen to the hiss. If you are doing it right, you should hear a rushing, hissing sound.

It requires a bit more breath force than a normal letter. If you put your hand in front of your mouth, you shouldn’t feel much air, but if you put your hands by your cheeks, you might feel the air escaping sideways!

Common mistakes to avoid

When native English speakers try to say Welsh place names, they often substitute the LL for sounds they already know.

Here are the sounds you should not be making.

The “Kl” sound

This is very common. People see Llanelli and say “Clanelli”. This happens because people are trying to make a “hard” sound in the back of their throat. The LL sound is made at the front of the mouth, not the back.

The “Th” sound

Some people pronounce it as “Thlanelli”. While the tongue position for ‘Th’ and ‘LL’ are somewhat close, the ‘Th’ sound comes from air moving over the tip of the tongue. For LL, the air must go around the sides.

The single “L” sound

Some learners just use a normal ‘L’. This is much better than “Kl”, but it is still not correct. A single ‘L’ in Welsh (like in the word wela, meaning “I’ll see”) is pronounced exactly like an English ‘L’. The double LL is a distinct, separate letter in the Welsh alphabet.

Practice words and phrases

Now that you have the technique, let’s look at some very common words.

The most common use of LL is in the word Llan. You will see this at the start of hundreds of town names. It originally meant an enclosure, but now generally refers to a church or parish settlement.

Here is a list of vocabulary to get you started:

Note: The LL can appear at the start, middle, or end of a word. It is often easier to practice it at the beginning of a word first.

Here are a few sentences to try. Read the English first, then try the Welsh aloud.

Regional variations

You might be wondering if this sound changes depending on where you are in Wales.

In general, the LL sound is quite consistent across the country. However, there are subtle differences in intensity.

North Wales

In the North (Gogledd), the LL is often pronounced quite strongly. You might hear a longer, more forceful hiss. The air is pushed out with a bit more energy.

South Wales

In the South (De), the sound can sometimes be a little softer and shorter. It is still distinctly an LL, but it might not sound quite as “aggressive” as the Northern version.

However, as a learner, you don’t need to worry too much about this. If you use the technique of blocking the tip of your tongue and blowing air out the sides, you will be understood perfectly in Cardiff, Bangor, and everywhere in between.

Summary

The Welsh LL looks scary on paper, but physically, it is just a “blown L”.

To recap:

• Put your tongue behind your top teeth (like you are saying “L”).
• Keep the tip there.
• Blow air out the sides of your mouth.
• Do not use your voice (no humming).

Don’t be afraid to make a strong hissing sound when you practice. It might feel silly at first, but it is the key to sounding like a local.