ɒ
Vowel
/ɒ/ — Open back rounded vowel
Example words
| Word | US English | UK English |
|---|---|---|
| lot | /ˈlɑt/ | /lɒt/ |
| cloth | /ˈklɔθ/ | /klɒθ/ |
| cough | /ˈkɑf/ | /kɒf/ |
| hot | /ˈhɑt/ | /hɒt/ |
| stop | /ˈstɑp/ | /stɒp/ |
| box | /ˈbɑks/ | /bɒks/ |
| not | /ˈnɑt/ | /nɒt/ |
| clock | /ˈklɑk/ | /klɒk/ |
| rock | /ˈɹɑk/ | /ɹɒk/ |
| dog | /ˈdɔɡ/ | /dɒɡ/ |
Transcriptions come from pronunciation lexicons IPAtics maintains, in US and UK English. /ɒ/ appears only in the UK English transcriptions; the US English dictionary writes these words with another symbol.
How to produce this sound
SoundOpen back rounded vowel.
TongueKeep the tongue body low enough for an open-quality vowel. Retract the tongue body toward the back of the mouth.
LipsRound the lips to the target shape early and hold that rounding steadily.
JawAllow a wider jaw opening while staying relaxed.
VoiceKeep voicing continuous and even through the segment.
Minimal pairs
Each pair differs only in /ɒ/, so hearing them side by side isolates the sound.
- lock/lɒk/luck/lʌk/
- cot/kɒt/cut/kʌt/
- not/nɒt/nut/nʌt/
- shot/ʃɒt/shut/ʃʌt/
Spelling patterns
- o as in hot
- ou as in cough
Practise this sound
Hear it in context with IPAtics
Select any text and get instant IPA transcription with per-phoneme pronunciation coaching. Free for macOS and Windows.
Download IPAtics