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    əʊ

    The /əʊ/ sound: o as in go

    • Diphthong
    • Glides
    • Medium priority

    Hear it

    in go

    Lips
    Close into a round
    Tongue
    Glides up
    Voice
    On
    Length
    Long: one sound that moves

    How to make /əʊ/

    1. 1

      Start from the neutral schwa position, lips relaxed.

    2. 2

      Glide back and round your lips towards /ʊ/.

    3. 3

      Go, home, know.

    Sounds like
    the letter O said the British way, 'uh-oo' blended
    British and American
    American English starts more rounded: /oʊ/ ('go' = /ɡoʊ/). Both are fine; the glide is what matters.

    How /əʊ/ is spelled

    • o
    • o … e
    • ow
    • oa
    • ough

    The usual mistake

    Using a pure /oː/ with no glide: the most common giveaway of a non-native 'o'. British /əʊ/ starts neutral; let the rounding happen during the sound.

    Hardest for speakers of

    Words to practise

    Say it and get scored

    Read go, home, know, boat, open, though aloud. Free, no account.

    Check my /əʊ/

    Questions

    How do you pronounce the /əʊ/ sound?
    Start from the neutral schwa position, lips relaxed. Glide back and round your lips towards /ʊ/. Go, home, know.
    What is the most common mistake with /əʊ/?
    Using a pure /oː/ with no glide: the most common giveaway of a non-native 'o'. British /əʊ/ starts neutral; let the rounding happen during the sound.
    Which spellings make the /əʊ/ sound?
    Common spellings include “o”, “o_e”, “ow”, “oa”, “ough”, as in go /ɡəʊ/, home /həʊm/, know /nəʊ/.
    Is /əʊ/ different in American English?
    American English starts more rounded: /oʊ/ ('go' = /ɡoʊ/). Both are fine; the glide is what matters. IELTS accepts both; pick one model and stay consistent.
    Does /əʊ/ 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.