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The /ɒ/ Sound Pronunciation Tool

This sound is your secret password to a more authentic British accent. It’s the short, open vowel in classic British pronunciations of “sorry”, “gone”, and “job”.

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Pronounce the word/phrase:

Overall Score

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Pending…
You said: “Your attempt will be shown here…”
Accuracy
0%
Pronunciation
0%
Fluency
0%
Completeness
0%
stop
spot
shot
shop
drop
lost
cost
boss
gone
from
long
song
pond
want
what
watch
often
offer
office
coffee
dollar
follow
option
object
common
problem
honest
pocket
bottle
bottom
possible
quality
What was the common problem with the object?
I lost my wallet at the coffee shop.
Honestly, that long document is a problem.
Following every option is not possible.
Most common problems start from the bottom.
She wants to watch the rocket stop.

Challenge Mode

1 / 10

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Here’s how you performed over 10 rounds:

Average Score: 0%

Accent Spotlight: The Sound That Splits the Atlantic

More than any other sound, the /ɒ/ vowel is a clear marker of a standard British (RP) accent versus a General American one. Where the British use this short, rounded sound, Americans use the long, open /ɑː/.

British English (RP)

Features the distinct /ɒ/ sound in words like:

  • bottle
  • honest
  • clock

American English

Merges this sound into the /ɑː/ vowel:

  • bottle
  • honest
  • clock

Crafting the /ɒ/ Sound: Quick, Open, and Round

The key to the /ɒ/ sound is making it short and keeping your lips rounded. It’s a quick, confident sound that doesn’t require much effort.

1. LIPS: Softly Rounded Shape your lips into a soft, relaxed circle. They should not be tight or pushed forward.
2. JAW: Slightly Dropped Let your jaw drop just a little. Your mouth is open, but not wide open like for /ɑː/.

Finding Your Bearings: The Sound’s Neighbors

To truly master /ɒ/, it helps to understand where it lives in relation to other sounds. It sits between the wide open /ɑː/ and the long, rounded /ɔː/.

/ɑː/

Jaw WIDE OPEN
Lips UNROUNDED

father

/ɒ/

Jaw HALF OPEN
Lips ROUNDED

hot (UK)

/ɔː/

Jaw HALF OPEN
Lips VERY ROUNDED & LONG

thought

Putting It Into Practice

The best way to get a feel for the rhythm of this sound is to use it in a sentence. Try this classic British-sounding phrase, keeping the /ɒ/ sound short and consistent.

“Honestly, John, stop the clock!“