Written o = /aw/ – part 1

 How many ways do we pronounce written single o?

 

The sound /aw/ is a combination of /a/ + /w/.

How now, brown cow?
/haw-naw-brawn-kaw/

This common phrase has been used since 1926 to practice the sound /aw/.

 

The sound /aw/ is spelled 2 ways.

ow + n, l, el, er
ou + d, nd, t, nt

There are only a small number of  words in each spelling pattern.
Some are everyday words; others are uncommon words.

 

wow
/waw/

allow … brow … cow … how … now … plow … vow

 

crown
/kɚ-awn/

brown … clown … down … drown … frown … gown … town

 

owl
/awl/

growl … howl … prowl … scowl

 

The Tower of Babel
/ðə-ˈta–wɚ-əv-ˈbæ-bəl/

flower … power … shower
towel … trowel … vowel

 

cloud
/klawd/

loud … proud … shroud

 

round
/rawnd/

around … found … ground … hound … pound … sound … bound

 

outdoors
/awt|-ˈdɔ-ɚz/

out … about … pout … rout … scout … shout … snout … sprout … stout … trout

 

count
/kawnt|/

mount … amount

 

Did you remember to make a strong /w/ at the end of /aw/?