This is the ɔ: sound. As in the words:
- or /ɔː/
- all /ɔːl/
- your /jɔː/
It is a Vowel sound and it’s technical name is the ‘Open-Mid Back Rounded Vowel’.
How to pronounce the ɔ: sound
Remember that the key to pronunciation s physical and the name tells us about how the sound is made physically. In this case your tongue is low and at the back of your mouth. Rounded refers to your lips because they are pushed together like you are going to kiss someone.
All vowels are made through the mouth and are voiced so you vibrate your vocal chords to make the sound.
It is similar to the /ɒ/ sound, but the two little dots mean that it is a longer sounds.
/ɔ:/ not /ɒ/.
To produce the sound put your tongue low and at the back of your mouth and lightly push your lips together while making a long voiced sound.
How the ɔ: sound is Spelled
The /ɔ:/ sound is often spelled with the letters ‘o-r’ as in the words:
- for /fɔː/
- more /mɔː/
But it can also be spelled with the letter ‘a’ as in the words:
- also /’ɔːlsəʊ/
- talk /tɔːk/
Examples of the ɔ: sound
Here are some words that start with the ɔ: sound:
- almost /ˈɔːlməʊst/
- although /ɔːlˈðəʊ/
- already /ɔːlˈredi/
- organization /ˌɔːgənaɪˈzeɪʆən/
Here are some words that have the sound in the middle:
- call /kɔːl/
- water /ˈwɔːtə/
- important /ɪmˈpɔːtənt/
- small /smɔːl/
Here are some words with the ɔ: sound at the end.
- door /dɔː/
- sure /ʆɔː/
- war /wɔː/
- four /fɔː/
So that is it for the ɔ: sound but we have made additional videos on each of the groups of sounds Vowels, Diphthongs, Single Consonants, or Consonant Pairs as well as a video explaining the the phonetic chart.