Pronunciation Pairs #4 - Mid Back Rounded Vowels: ɔ vs o
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This is the /ɔ/ sound and this is the /oʊ/ sound. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to tell them apart. Plus, you'll be practicing them and on your way to perfect pronunciation. I'm Doria and this is French pronunciation through minimal pairs. First is /ɔ/. This is the /ɔ/ sound in /ɔm/, /sɒ/, /pɔl/ and other words.

/o/ is the /o/ sound in /b/, /ʃ/, /m/ and other words. /o/ and /o/ are called back vowels because they are pronounced with the tongue positioned in the back of the mouth. To make the /o/ sound, part the lips and round them slightly. The tongue moves slightly towards the back of the mouth and flattens. /o/ /o/ /o/ /o/

To make the /o/ sound, part the lips and round them tightly. The tongue is flat in the mouth. Both /o/ and /u/ are pronounced with rounded lips. The difference between these two sounds is about how open your mouth is. /o/ is pronounced with a more open mouth than /u/.

When you say the vowel 'o' like in 'um', your jaw is more relaxed and the mouth is a little bit more open compared to 'o'. For the vowel 'o' like in 'o', your jaw is more tense and your lips are more rounded. The mouth is more closed than 'o'. So, listen to the difference and repeat after me. /ɒ/ /u/ /ɒ/ /u/ /ɒ/ /u/ /u/

So try to focus on the openness of the mouth when you pronounce these two sounds. Listen and repeat or speak along with me. Ready? Let's review. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud, then repeat after me, focusing on pronunciation. Do you remember the sound that's more open?

/ɒ/ And the more closed sound? /u/ Let's practice! Compare the sounds in these two words. Which word has the relatively more closed sound and which has the more open sound? /pəm/ /pum/ /pum/ has the more closed sound and /pəm/ has the more open sound. Let's try another. /tup/

Top has the more closed sound and top has the more open sound. Let's try one more. Sol has the more closed sound and sol has the more open sound. Now listen to the following sentences. Which words have the more closed sound and which have the more open sound? Je mets la pomme dans ma paume.

Paume, paume. La taupe et le top. Taupe, top. Read the following sentence out loud, focusing on the different sounds. Le sol est sec sous le sol. Sol, sol. Here's a special resource just for you. 30 plus French PDF cheat sheets that will improve your French twice as fast. Yours free. Just click the link in the comment section.