LISTEN

/ow/…/ow/…/ow/…/ow/

low…coat…phone…bow​l

WHAT IS IT?

Pronunciation:
The sound /ow/ is a mid, back, tense, rounded vowel.

• Pull your tongue backwards in your mouth, without raising or lowering it.
• Make a circle with your lips.
• Tighten your tongue.
• Breathe out to pronounce the vowel.​

The sound /ow/ is usually stressed, as in these words:

• ​clothing
• mostly
• below

However, /ow/ can also be unstressed. In an unstressed syllable, /ow/ is pronounced quickly and softly.

• almost
• yellow
• okay

Spelling:

• “o” – both, phone
• “oa” – coat, toast
• “ow” – bow​l, flow​
• “oe” – toe, goes
• “ough” – although, dough
• “ou” – soul, shoulder

COMPARE

Compare /ow/ with /ɔ/:

/ow/…/ɔ/…/ow/…/ɔ/…/ow/…/ɔ/

These are both mid, back, rounded vowels. However, /ow/ is a tense vowel and /ɔ/ is a lax vowel, When you pronounce /ow/, your tongue should be tightened.

You can hear the difference between /ow/ and /ɔ/ in these words.

1. A. flow, ​B. flaw
2. A. coat, B. caught
3. A. close, B. clause
4. A. loan, B. lawn
5. A. coal, B. call
​6. A. bowling, B. bawling

Practice recognizing words with /ow/ and /ɔ/ by taking the quiz here (external site).

Now, compare /ow/ and /uw/:

/ow/…/uw/…/ow/…/uw/…/ow/…/uw/

These are both back, tense, rounded vowels. However, /ow/ is a mid vowel, and /uw/ is a high vowel. When you pronounce /ow/, your tongue should be in the middle of your mouth, not raised.

You can hear the difference between /ow/ and /uw/ in these words.

1. A. no, B. new
2. A. road, B. rude
3. A. pole, B. pool
4. A. moan, B. moon​
5. A. roller, B. ruler.
6. A. sower, B. sewer

Practice recognizing words with /ow/ and /uw/ by taking the quiz here (external site).

PRACTICE

Listen and repeat these words:

Now, practice /ow/ in sentences:

1. hope – won’t – notice
I hope my mom won’t notice the mess.
2. coal – o​ld – stoves
Coal was once used in old stoves.
3. okay – show – photos
Is it okay if I show my brother your photos?
4. drove – slowly – potholes
I drove slowly to avoid potholes.
5. potatoes – bowl – low​er
The potatoes are in the bowl on the lower shelf.​
6. slow – growth – voter
​There has been a slow growth in voter turnout.

To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:

Male – US Midwest (St. Louis)

Male – US Midwest (Iowa)

Male – US Midwest

Female – US Northeast

Female – US Southeast

Prepare:
Think of the road safety advice you’ve heard for driving, biking, or walking. Which of the rules below are good rules to follow? Which ones are not good rules to follow?

• Don’t drink alcohol before driving or biking.
• Don’t rely only on traffic signals.
• If you see a broken white line in the middle of the road, you can move across it into another lane.
• You can drive on the shoulder of the road.
• When a traffic light is yellow, slow down.
• Don’t use your phone when you are driving, biking, or walking.
• Obey all speed limits when you are driving
• Wear headphones when you are driving or biking.
• If you see a pothole, you should drive in the other lane to avoid it.
• Cross the road only when no traffic is coming.

Record:
Imagine you are giving advice to a new driver. In your recording, describe two rules they should follow and two rules they should not follow. Explain your reasons.

©2024, Christine Wingate

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