Which symbol corresponds to the unvoiced labiodental fricative listed second?

• A. /u:/
• B. /v/
• C. /f/
• D. /b/

Answer: (C)

Labiodental fricatives are produced by directing air through a narrow gap between the lower lip and the upper teeth. When this sound is unvoiced, the vocal cords don’t vibrate. The symbol that represents this voiceless labiodental fricative in IPA is /f/. That’s the sound you hear at the start of “fish” or “fun.” The other options don’t fit: /u:/ is a long vowel, not a fricative; /v/ is the voiced version of the same place of articulation and involves vocal cord vibration; /b/ is a voiced bilabial stop, produced with a complete lip closure rather than a fricative constriction. So the symbol for the unvoiced labiodental fricative is /f/.