Note: In many American dialects, /ɔ/ and /ɑ/ are treated as the same sound.
Spelling:
- "o" - gone, follow
- "augh" - caught, daughter
- "ough" - bought, thought
- "aw" - saw, lawyer
- "a" - always, false,
- "oa" - abroad, broad
- "au" - August, author
LISTEN
/ɔ/.../ɔ/.../ɔ/.../ɔ/...
bought...lost...call...quarter...
bought...lost...call...quarter...
COMPARE
Compare /ɔ/ with /ɑ/:
| compare_o-a_1.mp3 |
/ɔ/.../ɑ/.../ɔ/.../ɑ/.../ɔ/.../ɑ/...
These are both low, tense vowels. However, /ɔ/ is a back, rounded vowel and /ɑ/ is a central, unrounded vowel. When you pronounce /ɔ/, your lips should form a circle.
Note: Many American English speakers do not distinguish between these two vowels.
These are both low, tense vowels. However, /ɔ/ is a back, rounded vowel and /ɑ/ is a central, unrounded vowel. When you pronounce /ɔ/, your lips should form a circle.
Note: Many American English speakers do not distinguish between these two vowels.
You can hear the difference between /ɔ/ and /ɑ/ in these words.
| compare_o-a_words.mp3 |
1. A. caught, B. cot
2. A. stalk, B. stock
3. A. dawn, B. don
4. A. score, B. scar
5. A. store, B. starry
6. A. caller, B. collar
2. A. stalk, B. stock
3. A. dawn, B. don
4. A. score, B. scar
5. A. store, B. starry
6. A. caller, B. collar
Now compare /ɔ/ and /ow/:
| compare_o-ow_1.mp3 |
/ɔ/.../ow/.../ɔ/.../ow/.../ɔ/.../ow/...
These are both back, tense, rounded vowels. However, /ɔ/ is a low vowel and /ow/ is a mid vowel. When you pronounce /ɔ/, your tongue should be low in your mouth.
These are both back, tense, rounded vowels. However, /ɔ/ is a low vowel and /ow/ is a mid vowel. When you pronounce /ɔ/, your tongue should be low in your mouth.
You can hear the difference between /ɔ/ and /ow/ in these words.
| compare_o-ow_words.mp3 |
1. A. saw, B. sow
2. A. bought, B. boat
3. A. clause, B. close
4. A. ball, B. bowl
5. A. lawn, B. loan
6. A. more, B. mower
2. A. bought, B. boat
3. A. clause, B. close
4. A. ball, B. bowl
5. A. lawn, B. loan
6. A. more, B. mower
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
| words_with_-o-.mp3 |
|
1. law
2. bought 3. lost 4. talk 5. broad 6. cause 7. fault 8. forest 9. dawn 10. long |
11. door
12. call 13. water 14. story 15. thoughtful 16. autumn 17. almost 18. always 19. morning 20. quarter |
Now practice /ɔ/ in sentences:
| sentences_with_-o-.mp3 |
1. talked - almost - dawn
We talked until almost dawn.
2. always - abroad - autumn
I always go abroad in the autumn.
3. bought - orange - mall
I bought an orange sweater at the mall.
4. called - walking - door
He called me as he was walking out the door.
5. daughter - story - morning
I told your daughter that story this morning.
6. score - already - lost
Based on our score, I think we already lost the game.
We talked until almost dawn.
2. always - abroad - autumn
I always go abroad in the autumn.
3. bought - orange - mall
I bought an orange sweater at the mall.
4. called - walking - door
He called me as he was walking out the door.
5. daughter - story - morning
I told your daughter that story this morning.
6. score - already - lost
Based on our score, I think we already lost the game.
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below. (Note: Because of regional variation, some speakers may use /ɑ/ instead of /ɔ/ in some words.)
