L Sound Initial Position Worksheet

Practicing L in the Initial Position

The L sound (or /l/ phoneme) in the initial position of words is a common articulation target for children ages 3 through 6. SLPs commonly start with initial /l/ because the tongue placement is most visible and easiest to cue in this position. The tongue tip lifts to the alveolar ridge just behind the upper front teeth, and voice flows around the sides of the tongue.

This worksheet provides 59 open-ended prompts featuring words that begin with the L sound. Each prompt presents a single target word for the student to practice saying aloud, use in a phrase, or repeat multiple times as directed by their speech-language pathologist.

How to Use This Worksheet

Print the worksheet and work through the prompts during therapy sessions or as homework practice. For each word, ask the student to say it clearly while focusing on tongue tip placement. A helpful cue is to have the student smile slightly to keep the tongue tip visible. After the student can say the word in isolation, ask them to use it in a short sentence. Mark each word as the student practices, and revisit any that need additional work.

Progression Tips

Once your student is consistent with initial /l/ at the word level, progress to phrases (e.g., “big lake”), then sentences, then conversation. ASHA guidelines recommend moving to the next complexity level when a student achieves approximately 80% accuracy at the current level.