Lips
Rounded from the start and staying lightly rounded through the r. The diagram shows the rounded starting shape.
R-coloured vowels · American English
/ɔr/as in north
The American "or": start on a rounded "or" vowel, then glide into the r colour. Keep it one flowing sound.
Example words: north, more, four, door, morning
Mouth
How do you pronounce the /ɔr/ sound?
Tongue
Start low-mid and back, as for a rounded "aw". Then curl the tip up and back, or bunch the mid-tongue, into the r. The tip never touches the roof of the mouth.
Length
Long. Let the rounded start ring before the r colour arrives.
Video lesson
Try it
- Round your lips and start a strong "aw".
- While the sound continues, curl or bunch the tongue into the r.
- Hold the tip in the air: no taps, no trills.
- Try it in words: north, more, four.
Check
Say "four" and hold the ending for a second. You should hear a steady r colour with your lips still lightly rounded. If the word fades out with no r, or you feel the tongue tap, reset and try again.
Common trap
Dropping the r so "more" becomes "maw", or tapping and trilling the tongue. The r is a held shape, not a hit.
Practice: /ɔr/
Words
northnˈɔɹθ
moremˈɔɹ
fourfˈɔɹ
doordˈɔɹ
morningmˈɔɹnɪŋ
Sentences
Please open the door before four.plˈiz ˈoʊpən ðə dˈɔɹ bəfˈɔɹ fˈɔɹ.
We need more forks for the party.wˌi nˈid mˈɔɹ fˈɔɹks fɔɹ ðə pˈɑɹɾi.
The store opens at four in the morning.ðə stˈɔɹ ˈoʊpənz æt fˈɔɹ ɪn ðə mˈɔɹnɪŋ.
It's warm this morning in the north.ˌɪts wˈɔɹm ðɪs mˈɔɹnɪŋ ɪn ðə nˈɔɹθ.
He scored forty points in the sport.hˌi skˈɔɹd fˈɔɹɾi pˈɔɪnts ɪn ðə spˈɔɹt.
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Sounds in the same group
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