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IPAow
Diphthong

Diphthong OW / Mouth Vowel

The diphthong vowel sound heard in words like "now", "house", "out", and "down". Often called the MOUTH vowel. It starts with a low vowel, similar to /Ʀ/ or /ɑ/, and glides towards a high back rounded vowel /ŹŠ/.

Voicing
Voiced
Place of Articulation
Low-Back-to-High-Back
Manner of Articulation
Vowel (Diphthong)
Mouth Position

Start with the jaw wide open, tongue low (either front /Ʀ/ or central /ɑ/). Then, glide the tongue high and back while rounding the lips for the /ŹŠ/ sound. The jaw closes significantly during the glide.

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Example Words

nowMain Example
naŹŠ
house
haŹŠs
out
aŹŠt
down
daŹŠn
about
əĖˆbaŹŠt
how
haŹŠ
sound
saŹŠnd
mouth
maŹŠĪø
town
taŹŠn
found
faŹŠnd

Pronunciation Practice

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Minimal Pairs

Listen and compare similar sounds

ow
now
naŹŠ
Compare with
N
no
noŹŠ
ow
down
daŹŠn
Compare with
D
dawn
dɔn
ow
house (noun)
haŹŠs
Compare with
H
house (verb)
haŹŠz
ow
found
faŹŠnd
Compare with
P
phoned
foŹŠnd

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