How do you pronounce words that begin with "wh"?

[AnnabelLee]

Words like when, where, white, wheeze, which, etc. I'm asking because I've noticed that some people pronounce them with a straight "w" sound (as I do), while others do so with an "h" sound first--"hwhen".

Is this a regional thing? Does this happen in all English speaking countries? Am I even making any sense?

[efhmc]

1. What and wheeze have a very different configuration of the lips when

said so I have no idea how to answer your interesting question.

[ljm2002]

2. Funny you should ask

One of my daughters used to make fun of me for pronouncing the "h" (I say "hwite", not "wite" for "white") -- she and my other kids just use the "w" sound.

They were raised in California, while I was raised in Montana. So I guess it could be a regional thing.

What made you bring up the topic? Just out of curiosity.

[AnnabelLee]

7. Well,

my MIL had Leave it to Beaver on the tv, & I heard the father say "hwhite". Then I was listening to Sinead O'Connor's Danny Boy & she sang that word the same way. It just got me to thinking about it.

[Kolesar]

3. I still remember the English teacher in "The Last Emporer"

(my favorite Spielberg film). He made a point of aspirating the "h" when teaching the young prince. Hwhat, hwhere, hwhen...

[Bossy Monkey]

5. Empire of the Sun is Spielberg; Last Emperor is Bertolucci

No big deal, just fyi

[Kolesar]

6. Oh, thank you

My favorite Spielberg film is by someone else. That's pretty hilarious after one beer. I am still thinking about how much I hated "E.T." about a week after I saw it.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. Hoo, wutt, hwen, hware

Suspect it varies more depending upon what vowel sound is following, rather than wutt region you're from. Hmmm.

[sweettater]

8. Here's my understanding

Whistle begins the the WH sound, so when you form your lips as if to whistle that is how they are formed when making the WH sound. (That is how I teach my children.) Poke them out. The W and WH initial sounds are completely different. At least to me. Thanks for the inquiry as this is something that has bothered me when listening to other people speak.

[nuxvomica]

9. I was taught that in college

By a wonderful English professor who always prounounced "wind" as "wined."

[redeye]

10. Straight w...

'wehn, 'wehr, 'weyet, 'weez, 'witsh...