The ‘wh’ sound in English

The presence of "wh" at the beginning of certain words in English can be attributed to historical changes in pronunciation. In Old English, the "wh" combination represented a different sound than just "w."

The "hw" sound, also known as the voiceless labiovelar fricative, is not as commonly used in modern English. However, in some accents and among certain individuals, you might find variations in the pronunciation of words containing "wh." Notable examples include:

• Queen's English/British Received Pronunciation (RP): Some speakers of the Queen's English or British Received Pronunciation maintain the distinction between "w" and "wh." For example, you might hear the "wh" sound in words like "what" and "where."

• Older Generation Speakers: In some older speakers or individuals who adhere to more traditional pronunciations, you may find the preservation of the "hw" sound.

In modern English, especially in many American accents, the distinction between the "w" and "wh" sounds has eroded, and they are often pronounced the same. However, when pronounced traditionally, the "wh" sound is like a breathy "h" sound followed by a "w" sound. 

For example:

• Traditional "wh" sound in "what": /hwʌt/

• Traditional "wh" sound in "where": /hwer/