Keyword PALM
/ɑː/as in “father”
How to make it
- Open your jaw wide, as for a doctor saying "say aah".
- Keep your tongue low and pulled back.
- Keep your lips relaxed, not rounded, and hold the sound.
Common mistake
Making it short and forward like the "a" in "cat".
In words
Listen at normal speed or slowly, then say it yourself.
- father
- car
- dance
US and UK
British English
/ɑː/
In British English this is also the vowel of "dance", "bath" and "can't".
American English
/ɑː/
In American English this is also the vowel of "hot", "stop" and "watch".
The vowel in "bath"
In words like bath, dance and can't, Americans use the "a" of "cat" and British speakers the "ah" of "father".
| American | British | |
|---|---|---|
| bath | /bæθ/ | /bɑːθ/ |
| dance | /dæns/ | /dɑːns/ |
| can't | /kænt/ | /kɑːnt/ |
| after | /ˈæftɚ/ | /ˈɑːftə/ |
The vowel in "hot"
In words like hot, stop and watch, Americans use a long, open "ah"; British speakers use a short "o" with slightly rounded lips.
| American | British | |
|---|---|---|
| hot | /hɑːt/ | /hɒt/ |
| stop | /stɑːp/ | /stɒp/ |
| watch | /wɑːtʃ/ | /wɒtʃ/ |