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    Pronunciation · vowel

    The /ɔː/ sound: aw as in law

    In short

    /ɔː/ is a long open-mid back rounded vowel, the vowel you hear in law, walk, thought. 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 /ɔː/

    1. 1Round your lips firmly, as if about to say 'or'.
    2. 2Keep your tongue back and mid-low.
    3. 3Hold it long: laaaw, thooought.

    Sounds like: a long, rounded 'aw', like a slow 'or' without the r

    /ɔː/ in words, with audio

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

    • lawlɔː · sound is final
    • walkwɔːk · sound is medial
    • thoughtθɔːt · sound is medial
    • fourfɔː · sound is final
    • waterˈwɔːtə · sound is medial
    • doordɔː · sound is final

    The mistake almost everyone makes

    Shortening it so 'port' sounds like 'pot', or breaking it into two sounds. Spelled many ways: 'thought', 'walk', 'four' and 'water' all use /ɔː/.

    Spellings of /ɔː/

    These letter patterns commonly spell /ɔː/: aw au ough or al oor ar. English spelling is unreliable; trust the IPA, not the letters.

    British vs American: American English pronounces the r in 'four' and 'door' (/fɔr/, /dɔr/), and many speakers merge /ɔː/ with /ɑ/ ('caught' = 'cot').

    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 /ɔː/

    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.

    swordSORDrecordREK-ordexportEKS-port

    Browse the whole word bank

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    Frequently asked questions

    How do you pronounce the /ɔː/ sound?
    Round your lips firmly, as if about to say 'or'. Keep your tongue back and mid-low. Hold it long: laaaw, thooought.
    What is the most common mistake with /ɔː/?
    Shortening it so 'port' sounds like 'pot', or breaking it into two sounds. Spelled many ways: 'thought', 'walk', 'four' and 'water' all use /ɔː/.
    Which spellings make the /ɔː/ sound?
    Common spellings include “aw”, “au”, “ough”, “or”, “al”, “oor”, “ar”, as in law /lɔː/, walk /wɔːk/, thought /θɔːt/.
    Is /ɔː/ different in American English?
    American English pronounces the r in 'four' and 'door' (/fɔr/, /dɔr/), and many speakers merge /ɔː/ with /ɑ/ ('caught' = 'cot'). IELTS accepts both; pick one model and stay consistent.
    Does /ɔː/ 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.

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