Medial AW Words for Speech Therapy

Medial AW Words are words that have the AW sound in the middle, such as for, your, and more. This list has 14 medial-position AW words for speech therapy practice, and most children master the AW sound by age 3.

AW words in the middle: for, your, more, talk, thought, before, long, wrong, wanted, talking — plus 4 more below. Medial position is where English vowels do most of their work: nearly every one-syllable word is a vowel with consonants around it, so this is usually the most useful list to practise from.

Words:14
Position:Medial

Medial AW Words — Full List (14 Words)

Every word below has the AW sound in the middle. Work through five at a time rather than the whole list in one sitting.

foryourmoretalkthoughtbeforelongwrongwantedtalkingcoursecalledgonelost
Practice these words with games

How to Practice Medial AW Words at Home

Strategies for practicing the AW sound in the middle of words.

1

Break each word into syllables and practice only the syllable holding the AW sound, then put the word back together.

2

Clap out the syllables and give the syllable with the AW sound the strongest clap, so it does not get swallowed by the ones around it.

3

Use a mirror. A vowel is made by how open the jaw is and how the lips and tongue sit, not by a contact your child can feel, so watching the mouth is the clearest feedback available.

4

Practice minimal pairs — two words that differ only in this vowel. Hearing the pair back to back shows a child exactly what has to change, which a single word never does.

5

Go by sound, not spelling. English writes the AW sound several different ways, so read the words aloud together rather than teaching them as a spelling pattern.

6

Use the words in short, natural phrases ("I see a for") so the vowel keeps its shape in connected speech.

Medial AW Words — Frequently Asked Questions

What are examples of AW words in the medial position?
This page lists 14 AW words that have the AW sound in the middle, including for, your, more, talk, thought, before, long, wrong, wanted, talking.
What age should a child master the AW sound?
Most children master the AW sound by age 3. Vowels come in earlier than most consonants: children generally have their full vowel system before the late-developing consonants such as /R/, /S/ and /TH/. Vowel errors are far less common than consonant errors, so one that is still there in a school-age child is worth raising with a speech-language pathologist.
How do you make the AW sound?
Cue the lip rounding directly — "make a little circle with your lips". If your family merges cot and caught, skip minimal pairs like cot/caught and practise the words as vocabulary instead.
What are common AW sound errors?
The most common AW errors are: Substituting the broad A sound (Broad A as in father) for the AW sound.; Substituting the long O sound (Long O as in boat) for the AW sound..
How do you practice medial AW words at home?
Break each word into syllables and practice only the syllable holding the AW sound, then put the word back together. Clap out the syllables and give the syllable with the AW sound the strongest clap, so it does not get swallowed by the ones around it.

More AW Word Lists & Resources

Practice the AW sound in the other word positions, or use the full sound guide and word list.

Initial AW Words

14 words with tips

Final AW Words

14 words with tips

AW Sound Guide

How to make it, common errors, FAQ

All AW Words

Complete 42-word list, all positions

Speech Sound Development Chart

What age each sound should appear

Speech Therapy Games

Practice AW words with interactive activities

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