Light and Dark /l/

Standard British English makes a difference between a so‐called light and a dark /l/.

The Light /l/

To make a light /l/, briefly touch the tip of the tongue up against the roof of the mouth (just behind the upper front teeth). The light /l/ is quick and is used when preceding an open vowel sound.
Examples :

                       lip                light                  loss                  luck

 

The Dark /l/

The dark /l/ is formed in the same place in the mouth. However, because this sound is heavier and rounder, press the tongue up against the roof of the mouth but for slightly longer than you would for the light /l/. The dark /l/ is slightly longer and is used when the /l/ is not followed by a vowel (i.e., before a consonant or in final position of the word).

Examples :

                     milk                 pill                    people                 ball

Bonus Exercises

Light /l/

          lips            lock           lap            land             lie           loom           less          link             lead         low

Dark /l/

            bill           will            fall            wall             file            style             mole           role            wild           
           mild