# Do you pronounce the L in calm, palm, etc...? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2026, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625 "2026-08-28T10:18:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/1 "2026-08-28T10:18:09Z")
Google says the L is not pronounced. Dictionaries say the L is not pronounced, both in the US and UK. But when linguist Rick Aschmann decided to put together a [map of American dialects](https://aschmann.net/AmEng/), he was surprised to find that most Americans do pronounce the L. If you can navigate his abysmal 90s-style website, he has this to say: > [@](#): > > **Continuing survey:** I only discovered in 2011 that many if not most Americans pronounce the “l” in words like “calm” and other words ending in “-alm”, which surprised me very much, since I don’t. Some also pronounce the “l” in “folk”, and even a few may pronounce the “l” in “talk”. See [The Pronunciation of “-alm” and “-olk” and “-alk”](https://aschmann.net/AmEng/#PronunciationOfAlm)for more details. I would love to know if you do or do not pronounce the “l” in such words, and where you grew up! Yes, I know many of you have sent in data, and I am still trying to get it all compiled. One thing that has discouraged me is that so far no very discernible pattern is emerging! _8-Dec.-2014_ (That link in the quote gets to the heart of it.) There is also an interesting example given if you can find it: > [@](#): > > Similarly, some speakers pronounce “corn stalk” (a noun) without the “l”, but “I stalk the deer” (a verb) with an “l”. If any of you who have already answered the survey find that you do the same, please let me know. _15-May-2012_ I’m and American who definitely does pronounce the L in “alm” words. Do you? (Poll is anonymous, if that matters.) _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/1))_ From everything I can gather, **only** Americans pronounce the L. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/2 "2026-08-28T11:32:51Z")
I voted as an American though I wasn’t born here. I’ve lived here for almost 40 years and my accent/dialect is very mixed up. I don’t think I’ve ever heard an American pronounce the L in these words. I’ve lived in the Midwest, South, MidAtlantic, NYC and New England over these last 40 years. One thing I have noticed is the flattening of dialects over this time. Everywhere I go, the regional accents are less distinct than they used to be. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/3 "2026-08-28T11:41:46Z")
In my head I think I do, but I don’t know if it’s detectable, so I’m not sure how to answer. I’ve been saying “comm” and “calm” and “pom” and “palm” out loud and it’s making me loopy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/4 "2026-08-28T11:42:00Z")
My mother, who grew up in a dual-language environment (English and French), would often replace the “l” with an “r” sound, to us kids’ continual amusement. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/5 "2026-08-28T11:57:09Z")
Not pronouncing the L makes you sound like you are from Boston. I’m not from Boston. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/6 "2026-08-28T12:03:05Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > There is also an interesting example given if you can find it: > > > [@](#): > > > > Similarly, some speakers pronounce “corn stalk” (a noun) without the “l”, but “I stalk the deer” (a verb) with an “l”. Though I imagine those same speakers wouldn’t pronounce the L in “stalk” if they were using it in the sense “OMG, he sent me ten texts in a row - he’s totally stalking me!” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/7 "2026-08-28T12:41:42Z")
IANALinguist. I’d say the “L” isn’t pronounced as much as it changes the shape of your mouth (via tongue) to make the “-alm” have a different sound. There’s probably a phrase for that. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/8 "2026-08-28T13:04:00Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > In my head I think I do, but I don’t know if it’s detectable, so I’m not sure how to answer. I’ve been saying “comm” and “calm” and “pom” and “palm” out loud and it’s making me loopy. This. I don’t know that it sounds like an l, exactly. But I’m pronouncing something. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/9 "2026-08-28T13:07:31Z")
I chose that I pronounce it in the poll, but I agree with this. I’m not sure I’m really pronouncing it as a distinct “L” sound. But the presence of the “L” definitely influences my pronunciation of the vowel that precedes it. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/10 "2026-08-28T13:20:39Z")
For “alms” like “alms for the poor” I would definitely say the L but I’m not sure about words like “calm” or “palm.” In my head they sound like “comm” and “pomm” though I am now saying them with the L and they don’t sound specifically _wrong_. I suspect that when I just say them without thinking I am not saying the L. I _definitely_ don’t say the L in “stalk” or “talk.” That just sounds bizarre and really forced. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/11 "2026-08-28T13:21:44Z")
Yeah, I pronounce something, but it’s sort of a notional “L” sound, not the full “L” formed by touching my tongue to the roof of my mouth right behind my top teeth. It’s more of a “moving my tongue toward the roof of my mouth” while I say the word- a half-assed “L” I suppose. Saying it fully with the tongue touching turns it into almost two syllables, while the half-assed sound keeps it firmly at one. But nor do I skip it entirely and say “Cahm” or anything close either. There’s a definite sound in there for the “L”. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/12 "2026-08-28T13:32:29Z")
I feel like I pronounce “Jack and the bean **stalk** ” differently from “beware that creepy **stalk** er” – the latter has more of an “L” sound. Anyone else? eta: As opposed to the questionable Target employee, who is a creepy stocker. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/13 "2026-08-28T13:37:18Z")
I always pronounce the “L” in “balm” to avoid confusion with “bomb”. I think I sometimes pronounce it in “calm” and “palm” as well (but never in “talk”). ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/14 "2026-08-28T13:54:02Z")
Yes, I pronounce the “L” in palm, calm, alms… And no, I do not pronounce it in stalk, talk, walk (stock, tock, and wok). ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/15 "2026-08-28T14:23:16Z")
Same with me on the pronounced Ls, though my vowels are slightly different for some \*ok and \*alk. My wok sounds ‘rounder,’ closer to squawk and my walk vowel sounds like thought. “I’ll give this some thOUGHt when I take my wALk.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/16 "2026-08-28T14:23:51Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I always pronounce the “L” in “balm” to avoid confusion with “bomb”. Same here, but only when I’m on an airplane. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/17 "2026-08-28T14:50:54Z")
I pronounce ‘l’ almost all the time. Not sure about “folk”, though. I think I do, but it’s rolling around in my mouth so much that I can’t be sure how I pronounce it naturally. In my spoken dialect, however, “palm” and “pom” do not rhyme, nor do “stalk” and “stock”, or “calm/com”. I don’t pronounce the ‘l’ in “talk” or “walk”, though. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/18 "2026-08-28T14:58:09Z")
I’m the same as you, @ricepad. Pretty much always pronounce the L, which makes them sound different than the non-l versions: stock and stalk sound different, etc… But not folk. If I add an “a” to the end of folk, it does not sound the same as polka, where I do pronounce the L. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/19 "2026-08-28T15:17:14Z")
My MiL pronounces the L in “salmon”. Kinda grates on my nerves whenever I hear it, but since it’s quite likely the most irritating thing about her, I have no trouble grinning and bearing it. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625/20 "2026-08-28T15:20:51Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > But not folk. If I add an “a” to the end of folk, it does not sound the same as polka, where I do pronounce the L. Correction. Funnily enough, I do pronounce the L in folk _music,_ but not if I’m referring to the good folks in my town, like how politicians talk. (This entire topic seems to be a hotbed of semantic satiation for me. Writing the op had me feeling like pronounced is not a word. Now I’m feeling that with folk.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pronounce-the-l-in-calm-palm-etc/1032625.md?page=2)