LISTEN
/ɔ/.../ɔ/.../ɔ/.../ɔ/...

bought...lost...call...quarter...

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation:
The sound /ɔ/ is a low, back, ​tense vowel. 
  • Lower your tongue and pull it backwards.
  • Make a circle with your lips.
  • Tighten your tongue.
  • Breathe out to pronounce the vowel.
​
Note: In many American dialects, /ɔ/ and /ɑ/ are treated as the same sound.

Spelling:
  • "o" - go​ne, follow
  • "augh" - caught, daughter
  • "ough" - bought, though​t
  • "aw" - saw, lawyer
  • "a" - always, false,
  • "oa" - abroad, broad
  • "au" - August, author

COMPARE
Compare /ɔ/ with /ɑ/:
compare_o-a_1.mp3
File Size: 130 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
/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.
You can hear the difference between /ɔ/ and /ɑ/ in these words.
compare_o-a_words2.mp3
File Size: 216 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
1. A. stalk, B. stock
2. A. caught, B. cot
3. A. dawn, B. don
4. A. caller, B. collar
5. A. score, B. scar
6. A. store, B. starry

Practice recognizing words with /ɔ/ and /ɑ/ by taking the quiz below.

Now compare /ɔ/ and /ow/:
compare_o-ow_1.mp3
File Size: 118 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
/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.

You can hear the difference between /ɔ/ and /ow/ in these words.
compare_o-ow_words.mp3
File Size: 407 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
1. A. saw, B. so
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 recognizing words with /ɔ/ and /ow/ by taking the quiz below.

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-o-.mp3
File Size: 637 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
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. sto​ry
15. thoughtful
16. autumn
17. almost
18. always
19. morning
20. quarter

Now practice /ɔ/ in sentences:
sentences_with_-o-.mp3
File Size: 1335 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File
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.

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.)

USE IT!
​​Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.

Prepare:
Imagine you are upset, and your friend wants to help. What should your friend do?​
  • Talk to you face-to-face
  • Call you on the phone
  • Don't bother you until you feel better
  • Give you a book by your favorite author
  • Apologize if it's their fault
  • Take you to the mall
  • Spend a long time with you
  • Play a board game with you
  • Tell you an encouraging story​
  • Talk to you face-to-face
  • Call you on the phone
  • Don't bother you until you feel better
  • Give you a book by your favorite author
  • Apologize if it's their fault
  • Take you to the mall
  • Spend a long time with you
  • Play a board game with you
  • Tell you an encouraging story​

Record:
​In your recording, describe the 2 most thoughtful things your friend could do for you. Explain why these things would be helpful.

©2018-2021, Christine Wingate