Medial DW Blend Words for Speech Therapy

Medial DW Blend Words are words that have the /dw/ sound in the middle, such as edward, broadway, and sandwiches. This list has 14 medial-position DW Blend words for speech therapy practice, and most children master the /dw/ sound by age 5.

DW Blend words in the middle: edward, broadway, sandwiches, hardware, sidewalk, edwards, goodwill, worldwide, sideways, ludwig — plus 4 more below. Medial position surrounds the target sound with other sounds, which builds fluency and carryover into connected speech.

Words:14
Position:Medial

Medial DW Blend Words — Full List (14 Words)

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

edwardbroadwaysandwicheshardwaresidewalkedwardsgoodwillworldwidesidewaysludwigmidwaywoodwardboardwalkwoodwork
Practice these words with games

How to Practice Medial DW Blend Words at Home

Strategies for practicing the /dw/ sound in the middle of words.

1

Break words into syllables and have your child practice the syllable containing the /dw/ sound first, then put the word back together.

2

Medial position words can be trickier because the /dw/ sound is surrounded by other sounds. Slow the word down so your child can feel each part.

3

Clap out the syllables of each word and emphasize the syllable with the /dw/ sound.

4

Use these words in short, natural phrases (e.g., "I see a edward") to practice in connected speech.

5

Once your child can say the word slowly with the correct /dw/ sound, gradually speed up to a natural pace.

Medial DW Blend Words — Frequently Asked Questions

What are examples of DW Blend words in the medial position?
This page lists 14 DW Blend words that have the /dw/ sound in the middle, including edward, broadway, sandwiches, hardware, sidewalk, edwards, goodwill, worldwide, sideways, ludwig.
What age should a child master the DW Blend sound?
Most children master the /dw/ blend by age 5. Blends arrive after the sounds they are made of: the /D/ and /W/ sounds each have to be reliable on their own before the cluster will hold, which is also the order to practise them in. Two-sound blends are generally in place somewhere between ages 4 and 7, tracking the sounds inside them — the ones containing /L/ or /R/ come in later than the rest.
How do you make the DW Blend sound?
If /tw/ is already there, get /dw/ by saying "twin" and turning the voice on from the very beginning; a hand on the throat makes the difference easy to feel. Do not chase volume on this one — there are only a few real words, and those are the ones to practise.
What are common DW Blend sound errors?
The most common /dw/ errors are: Cluster reduction — producing only the /D/ sound and dropping the rest of the blend. This is by far the most common blend error.; Cluster reduction — producing only the /W/ sound and dropping the rest of the blend. This is by far the most common blend error.; Substituting the /T/ sound for one of the sounds inside /dw/..
How do you practice medial DW Blend words at home?
Break words into syllables and have your child practice the syllable containing the /dw/ sound first, then put the word back together. Medial position words can be trickier because the /dw/ sound is surrounded by other sounds. Slow the word down so your child can feel each part.

More DW Blend Word Lists & Resources

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

Initial DW Blend Words

4 words with tips

DW Blend Guide

How to make it, common errors, FAQ

All DW Blend Words

Complete 18-word list, all positions

Speech Sound Development Chart

What age each sound should appear

Speech Therapy Games

Practice DW Blend words with interactive activities

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