LoginThe Letter O In American English
The fifteenth letter of the English alphabet is "O." It is also the fourth vowel in the English language.
Vowels are sounds that are pronounced without any restriction in the vocal tract. It means we can produce it with the unrestricted flow of air.
| Uppercase Form | O |
|---|---|
| Lowercase | o |
| Name | o (pronounced /oʊ/) |
| Common Sounds | /oʊ/, /ə/, /ɑ/, /ɔ/, /ʌ/ |
Pie Chart of "o" Pronunciation in American English
The Letter O: Sounds
Vowels in the English language can have many many sounds. Here we will look at some of its common ones.
Common Sounds
Sound 1: /oʊ/
"o" sounds /oʊ/:
potat
h
radi
Sound 2: /ə/
Sound 3: /ɑ/
Sound 4: /ɔ/
Sound 5: /ʌ/
Other Sounds
Sound 6: /uː/
Sound 7: /ʊ/
Sound 8: /wʌ/
"o" also sounds /wʌ/:
Tip!
"o" can also sound /ɪ/ in the word "women:"
w
The Letter O: Multigraphs
"o" can also appear in combination with other letters (mainly vowels and sometimes consonants). They can create distinct vowels:
oo
"oo" commonly has four sounds:
- /uː/
- /ʊ/
- /ʌ/
- /ɔ/
1. "oo" mainly sounds /uː/:
t
br
sp
2. "oo" in the middle of words sounds /ʊ/:
f
h
b
3. "oo" also sounds /ʌ/ in some words:
bl
fl
4. "oo" can also sound /ɔ/:
d
p
fl
oa
"oa" commonly has three sounds:
- /oʊ/
- /ɔː/
- /ɑː/
1. "oa" mainly sounds /oʊ/:
g
c
c
2. "oa" also sounds /ɔː/:
r
b
3. Sometimes, "oa" sounds /ɑː/:
br
abr
oe
"oe" commonly has two sounds:
- /oʊ/
- /uː/
1. "oe" sounds /oʊ/:
d
h
t
2. "oe" also sounds /uː/:
sh
can
Tip!
- "oe" sounds /ʌ/ in the word "does:"
d
- "oe" sounds /iː/ in French loanwords:
ph
f
eo
Tip!
"eo" in the word
p
oi
"oi" commonly has two sounds:
- /ɔɪ/
- /ə/
1. "oi" sounds /ɔɪ/:
j
c
t
2. "oi" also sounds /ə/:
tort
porp
ou
"ou" commonly has six sounds:
- /aʊ/
- /ʌ/
- /uː/
- /oʊ/
- /ə/
- /ʊ/
1. "ou" in the middle of words has four sounds; the first one is /aʊ/:
h
cl
m
2. "ou" also sounds /ʌ/:
t
t
c
3. "ou" also sounds /uː/:
gr
s
y
4. "ou" also sounds /oʊ/:
sh
b
s
5. "ou" at the end of words sounds /ə/:
enorm
fam
6. "ou" also sounds /ʊ/ in the word tour and its combinations:
cont
t
t
Tip!
Warning!
In the word "cough," the letters "ou" sound /ɑː/:
c
our
"our" mainly sounds /ɔːr/:
f
c
p
ough
"ough" commonly has four sounds:
- /aʊ/
- /oʊ/
- /ɑː/
- /oʊ/ or /ə/
1. "ough" sounds /aʊ/, in other words, "gh" is silent in these cases:
dr
b
2. "ough" sounds /oʊ/ in some words:
alth
d
3. "ough" also sounds /ɑː/:
th
br
s
4. "ough" also sounds /oʊ/ or /ə/ if it is placed at the last syllable:
bor
thor
ow
"ow" commonly has two sounds:
- /oʊ/
- /aʊ/
1. "ow" sounds /oʊ/:
wind
sn
b
2. "ow" also sounds /aʊ/:
c
t
oy
"oy" sounds /ɔɪ/:
t
r
or
"or" commonly has two sounds:
- /ɔːr/
- /ɜːr/
1. "or" sounds /ɔːr/:
f
sc
st
2. "or" also sounds /ɜːr/:
w
w
w
Tip!
"ot" at the last syllable of French loanwords sounds /oʊ/:
escarg
The Letter O: Uses
The letter "O" is used as:
- The vocative case in titles, before a noun, usually capitalized; for example "
O Canada " or "O Lord ,save thy people " - "Zero" when saying phone numbers, etc. like: "
My number is six o double three " (6033 ) - The symbol for the chemical element "
oxygen "
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