Lips
Start already lightly rounded, as for "o", and round a little more as you glide. The diagram shows the rounded start. This is the key difference from the British version, which starts neutral.
Diphthongs · American English
/oʊ/as in goat
The American "oh": one glide from a rounded "o" to an even more rounded, light "uu". Rounded from the very first moment.
Example words: goat, go, show, home, phone
Mouth
How do you pronounce the /oʊ/ sound?
Tongue
Start mid-back and slightly raised. Glide up toward the high-back position while the voice continues.
Length
Fairly long. Hold the rounded "o" start; the tighter ending is short and light.
Video lesson
Try it
- Round your lips lightly and start a clear "o".
- While the sound continues, glide up and back, rounding a touch more.
- Keep it one smooth movement with a strong start and a light finish.
- Try it in words: goat, go, show.
Check
Say "show" in a mirror. Your lips should be visibly round from the very first instant and stay round to the end. If the start looks loose and neutral, you have drifted into the British version.
Common trap
Freezing on a flat, pure "o" with no glide, splitting it into two beats, or starting with loose neutral lips (that is the British start, not this one).
Practice: /oʊ/
Words
goatɡˈoʊt
goɡˌoʊ
showʃˈoʊ
homehˈoʊm
phonefˈoʊn
Sentences
We drove home along the old road.wˌi dɹˈoʊv hˈoʊm əlˈɔŋ ði ˈoʊld ɹˈoʊd.
I hope you know the whole story.ˌaɪ hˈoʊp ju nˈoʊ ðə hˈoʊl stˈɔɹi.
Show me the photo on your phone.ʃˈoʊ mˌi ðə fˈoʊɾoʊ ˌɔn jʊɹ fˈoʊn.
It's cold, so close the window.ˌɪts kˈoʊld, sˌoʊ klˈoʊs ðə wˈɪndoʊ.
He goes walking alone most mornings.hˌi ɡˈoʊz wˈɔkɪŋ əlˈoʊn mˈoʊst mˈɔɹnɪŋz.
🔊 plays the app's native voice. 🎤 records you so you can play it back next to it. Your recording stays in your browser.
Sounds in the same group
Is /oʊ/ one of yours?
Accenty listens to you speak and shows the sounds you miss, in American English.
