If you're a native Spanish speaker, you may be adding a small G sound before the English W without realizing it. 

For example, you might pronounce:

• when → gwhen
• why → gwhy
• where → gwhere

To American listeners, this subtle extra sound can make your pronunciation immediately stand out.

Fortunately, it's usually caused by one specific tongue movement—and once you know what to change, it's much easier to correct.

Why the G Sound Appears

The English W should begin with the back of the tongue suspended inside the mouth.

It should not touch the roof of the mouth.

A G, however, is created when the back of the tongue makes contact with the soft palate before releasing.

If your tongue briefly touches the palate as you begin a W, you'll accidentally create a G sound first.

Instead of:

when

Americans hear something closer to:

gwhen

The difference lasts only a fraction of a second, but it changes the sound of the word.

What Your Tongue Should Do Instead

When producing an American W:

• Keep the back of your tongue away from the roof of your mouth.
• Don't let it touch the palate.
• Don't let it get so close that it creates friction.
• Let the tongue remain suspended in the middle of the mouth as the sound begins.

The movement should feel smooth and open rather than blocked.

Listen for the Extra G

Many learners don't feel this mistake, but they can hear it once they know what to listen for.

Record yourself saying these words:

• why
• when
• where
• we
• will
• window

Ask yourself:

Do I hear a tiny G before the W?

If you do, your tongue is probably contacting the palate before the W begins.

Practice in Front of a Mirror

A mirror can help you slow the movement down and become more aware of what your mouth is doing.

As you practice, focus on beginning the W smoothly instead of allowing the back of the tongue to lift into the palate.

The goal is a clean transition directly into the vowel—not a G followed by a W.

Small Habit, Big Difference

Because words beginning with W are extremely common in English, this habit repeats itself throughout conversations.

Correcting it won't eliminate your accent by itself, but it removes one of the patterns that frequently catches an American listener's attention.

As with most pronunciation habits, lasting improvement comes from retraining the movement itself—not simply trying to "say it differently."