This content was created by Hadar Shemesh. This content was uploaded by Hadar Shemesh. This is a podcast episode titled "99. How to pronounce OW as in GO" (PODCAST) created on 2021-01-29. It is an English pronunciation/teaching episode hosted by Hadar Shemesh focused on the O diphthong (as in go, no, hotel). The content includes phonetic explanation (mouth shape, diphthong movement toward a W sound), guided practice and drills, a second speaker (SPEAKER C) providing mimic responses, references to a practice sheet and recording, and calls-to-action to subscribe and follow Hadar on Instagram (Hadar Accentsway).
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Welcome to the Influency podcast. I'm Hadar, and this is your how to Pronounce Friday. And today we are going to focus on one of the sounds in American English. I'm going to teach you how to pronounce it, and then we'll practice it together. Are you ready? Warm up your tongue because this is going to be fun. Let's get started.
Hey, guys, it's Hadar. And this is the accent sway. And today we're going to talk about the O vowel, the o diphthong, as in go. No, lonely and hotel. I can't believe I haven't talked to you guys about it yet. Shame on me, because this is a very important vowel sound for non native speakers. Now, here's the thing. This is not a regular pure vowel. It's a diphthong, which means, first of all, it's longer two vowels that are connected. This is how you should think about it. And second thing, it's a vowel that changes. So you're starting in one point and then you're changing into another. So while you start with a fairly open mouth and slightly rounded lips, you close the mouth as you pronounce the sound and push your lips forward to an oo sound.
O. O.
Try it with me.
Go. No.
Now, you have to be really loose. It's not very. It's not so stiff. It's not.
No go.
Right. And you don't see a lot of jaw movement here. You gotta loosen your jaw and then close it slightly to the oo sound.
No.
Go. All right, so you want to visualize as if there is a W sound at the end. This is the only way you'll actually get to the second sound. If you visualize a W sound. Now, some people may pronounce that as a diphthong. Low.
Go.
No.
When it's at the end of the word, but at the beginning of the word, you may turn it into a quick, short O sound. And you may say only instead of long o only. Do you hear the difference? It's not only. It's only. It's not don't.
It's don't.
A long diphthong. It is not won't. I won't do it.
It's won't. Won't.
Now, I already made a video specifically about the difference between won't and won't. And if you tend to confuse these two, I highly recommend you to watch it. And as you can see here, it's very important to reach the W sound. Otherwise it's going to be perceived as a different sound.
So again, whoa.
Get to the W sound. Create change. Hear the difference between the beginning and the end of the same vowel.
Woe. Won't. Don't. Cold.
It's not cold.
Cold.
Scroll. Not scroll.
Scroll.
So it has to be a little longer. Hotel. And not hotel or hotel.
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas. Hotel. Quick.
O.
But still, it's a long vowel. All right, so visualize the W. Give yourself the time. So make it a longer vowel, double the length of what you might be used to, and start open so you have where to go so you can actually close it and throughout the pronunciation O. Now, if you want to practice this sound, and the only way to really make a change and the only way to own a new sound is by practicing drilling words, phrases, and sentences and developing muscle memory, and then it's just going to be there for you when you're speaking, because it's very difficult to think about those things when you're trying to make conversation. So I prepared a practice sheet for you guys with words and sentences that have the O as in go sound, and a recording of me so you can actually drill the words until you get used to the new pronunciation. And remember to insert that extra W after the O. O. That's it. Let me know in the comments how you're doing and if you have any questions about this sound. And if you don't, then I'll just see you next.
Okay, that was your how to Pronounce Friday episode. I hope you enjoyed it. And if you like the podcast, then consider subscribing to the podcast. And if you feel really crazy, you can even rate and review the podcast. And you can find me at Hadar Accentsway on Instagram, where you can DM me and ask for all the crazy, fancy, confusing words that you'd like to know how to pronounce. Have a beautiful day, and I'll see you next time. Wow.
