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    Pronunciation · vowel

    The /ɑː/ sound: ar as in car

    In short

    /ɑː/ is a long open back vowel, the vowel you hear in car, father, ask. Like every diphthong, the glide between two positions IS the sound. Below: exactly how to position your mouth, audio you can copy, the mistakes learners actually make, and drills to fix them.

    How to pronounce /ɑː/

    1. 1Open your mouth wide and drop your jaw.
    2. 2Pull your tongue low and to the back.
    3. 3Hold the sound long: caaar, faaather.

    Sounds like: the long 'ah' you make for a doctor, from deep in the mouth

    /ɑː/ in words, with audio

    Listen, then copy. The slow (turtle) version exaggerates the mouth movement.

    • carkɑː · sound is final
    • fatherˈfɑːðə · sound is medial
    • askɑːsk · sound is initial
    • hearthɑːt · sound is medial
    • calmkɑːm · sound is medial
    • laughlɑːf · sound is medial

    The mistake almost everyone makes

    Cutting it short so 'heart' sounds like 'hut', or pronouncing the letter r after it in British English; in RP 'car' is /kɑː/ with no r sound.

    Spellings of /ɑː/

    These letter patterns commonly spell /ɑː/: ar a al ear au. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.

    British vs American: American English pronounces the r ('car' = /kɑr/) and uses /æ/ in words like 'ask', 'laugh' and 'dance'.

    Don't confuse it with…

    Minimal pairs isolate the exact contrast, the fastest way to train both your ear and your mouth.

    Words that drill /ɑː/

    Each has a full breakdown, audio in both accents and a recording drill. Practising a sound inside a real word transfers better than practising it alone.

    facadefuh-SAHDanswerAHN-suhcastleKAH-sulaskedAHSKTgarageGA-rahzhhierarchyHY-uh-rar-keequinoaKEEN-wahedamameed-uh-MAH-may

    Browse the whole word bank

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    Frequently asked questions

    How do you pronounce the /ɑː/ sound?
    Open your mouth wide and drop your jaw. Pull your tongue low and to the back. Hold the sound long: caaar, faaather.
    What is the most common mistake with /ɑː/?
    Cutting it short so 'heart' sounds like 'hut', or pronouncing the letter r after it in British English; in RP 'car' is /kɑː/ with no r sound.
    Which spellings make the /ɑː/ sound?
    Common spellings include “ar”, “a”, “al”, “ear”, “au”, as in car /kɑː/, father /ˈfɑːðə/, ask /ɑːsk/.
    Is /ɑː/ different in American English?
    American English pronounces the r ('car' = /kɑr/) and uses /æ/ in words like 'ask', 'laugh' and 'dance'. IELTS accepts both; pick one model and stay consistent.
    Does /ɑː/ matter for IELTS?
    It matters moderately. Errors are noticeable but only sometimes affect understanding. Fix the high-priority vowel contrasts and final consonants first, then polish this one.

    Next step

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