What is velum?

The velum is like a soft curtain at the back of your mouth that helps you speak and swallow.

Imagine you're drinking a big glass of juice. When you take a sip, that velum moves up to cover your nose, so the juice goes down your throat instead of coming out your nose. It's like a little door that opens and closes.

When you're talking, the velum helps make different sounds. For example, when you say "moo," it’s like the velum is making a soft roof over your mouth, it helps create that m sound.

But when you say "aah," the velum moves back to let air go through your nose, which makes that aah sound. It's like opening a window so more air can come in!

Sometimes, if the velum doesn't close properly, it might feel like you're making funny sounds or even having trouble swallowing, but with practice, it gets better!