Vowels of American English Pronunciation

Central Vowels

• /ɑ/ as in box
  • Tonge in the bottom and somewhat tense.
  • Usually in
• /ʌ/ as in but
  • Tongue in the middle of the mouth and is very relaxed
  • Usually in o and u.
• The two vowels are basically the same in American English. Upside-down v is used for stressed syllables.

Back Vowels

• /uw/ as in boot
  • Tongue is very high in the back of mouth and fairly tense.
  • oo as in room
  • ue as in blue
  • u-e as in tune
  • u as in truth
• /ʊ/ as in book
  • Tongue is high in the back of mouth and relaxed.
  • Lips are somewhat round.
  • oo as in took
  • u as in put
  • could and wolf
• /ow/ as in boat
  • Tongue is at back of the mouth and very tense.
  • While saying the sound, tongue rises a little bit, and lips change from a little round to very round.
  • oa as in roast
  • oe as in toe
  • o→e as in wrote
  • ow as in below
  • o as in gold
• /ɔ/ as in bought
  • Tongue is in the back of the mouth.
  • Lips are very slightly rounded.
  • aw as in law
  • au as in caught
  • a(l) as in walk
  • a(ll) as in small
  • o(r) as in torn

Tip

Put your hand under your jaw and feel it when pronouncing these vowels.

Diphthongs

• /ay/ as in hi
• /aw/ as in how
• /oy/ as in boy
• “Hi, cowboy?”

Unstressed Vowels

• Softened and less clear, weaker and shorter
• schwa sound /ə/ - tongue in the middle and relaxed, let the sound come out
• button → buttn; doctor → doctr; label → labl
• Pronounce the word, hold your fist when it comes to the stressed syllable

R-Controlled Vowels

• In British English, the r sound occurs only if it is followed by another vowel.