Keyword GOAT
/əʊ/as in “go”
How to make it
- American: start with rounded lips, as in a short "or".
- British: start with relaxed lips and a neutral "uh".
- Then glide towards "oo", rounding your lips more.
Common mistake
Holding one pure "o" with no glide, which makes "coat" sound like "caught".
In words
Listen at normal speed or slowly, then say it yourself.
- go
- home
- boat
Don't confuse with
Listen and choose the word you hear.
US and UK
British English
/əʊ/
The British version starts from a relaxed, central sound: [əʊ].
American English
/oʊ/
The American version starts rounded: [oʊ].
The vowel in "go"
Americans start the vowel in "go" with rounded lips [oʊ]; British speakers start from a relaxed, central sound [əʊ].
| American | British | |
|---|---|---|
| go | /ɡoʊ/ | /ɡəʊ/ |
| home | /hoʊm/ | /həʊm/ |
| phone | /foʊn/ | /fəʊn/ |