The O Sound in American English
(as in “no” / “rose”)
This is the long O diphthong /oʊ/. Most learners make it too short or too pure. Here’s how natives actually say it.
30 Common Words with this Sound
go
no
so
most
only
those
over
know
own
old
show
home
hold
both
though
almost
low
road
hope
phone
close
goal
note
boat
slow
coast
blow
snow
throat
quote
Practice Sentences
• Joe mostly works as a programmer on his own.
• The coat from the coast cost more than most.
• Slow Joe blows his broken oboe on the road to Tokyo.
• The showboat rode the overflowed river, towing rows of cargo.
• I don’t know if those old clothes still fit at home.
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