wh=/w/

Rule Core

The wh=/w/ rule states that in most modern English words, the spelling wh is pronounced as /w/, identical to the letter w. The historical /hw/ sound has largely disappeared in mainstream American and British English.

Articulation Guide

Round the lips slightly forward, keep the tongue relaxed and retracted, allow smooth airflow, and activate voicing. There is no friction or aspiration.

Word Analysis

• anywhere: medial wh is pronounced /w/ → /ˈeniwer/.
• overwhelm: despite morphological complexity, wh remains /w/, ensuring phonetic consistency.

Pitfalls

Do not over-pronounce /h/. Note exceptions like who or whole, where historical spelling masks a different sound.