Vowel

Sounds of American English

Confusing Vowel Sounds Part 2

/uw/ pool /ay/ like /ɔ/ caught /ʌ/ cup
/ʊ/ pull /ey/ lake /ow/ coat /ɑ/ cop



What can we do when we confuse two sounds?

1. Be _________________________ of sounds.
2. Learn to _________________________ carefully.
3. Keep __________________________.

Your tongue is a little higher in

/uw/ /ʊ/ your mouth and your lips are

pool
rounder when you say /uw/
pull than when you say /ʊ/.

Are any words with these sounds difficult for you?

Your tongue starts out low and
/ay/ /ey/ moves to the front of your mouth

like
when you say /ay/. It starts in the
lake front and moves up a bit when
you say /ey/.

Are any words with these sounds difficult for you?


For both sounds, your tongue
/ɔ/ /ow/ starts out in the same place, but

caught
when you say /ɔ/, it stays still.
coat When you say /ow/, your tongue
moves up higher, and your lips
become rounder.
Are any words with these sounds difficult for you?

When you say /a/, your tongue
/ʌ/ /ɑ/ is lower and your mouth is

cup
more open than when you say
cop /ʌ/.

Are any words with these sounds difficult for you?

Practice these sentences:
1. Don’t pull me into the pool!
2. The book is full of foolish ideas.
3. Who’d want that ugly hood?
4. Luke looked at the pool.
5. I’d like a vacation by the lake.
6. Be sure you pay the right rate.
7. Try to put the dishes on the tray.
8. It’s so late! Turn off the light
9. He caught the coat when it fell.
10. The fisherman bought a boat.
11. A dog woke up and walked away.
12. Do you want a ball or a bowl?
13. The cop drank a cup of coffee.
14. Ducks were sitting on the dock.
15. I do not like nuts.
16. The robber wore rubber shoes