O + R

Mastering the "OR" sound is key to sounding more natural in American English, as it appears in many common words. This lesson will help you produce it clearly and consistently.

How to make it

/ɔr/
NORTH r-colored
Lips: rounded
Tongue: mid-back
Voicing: voiced
💡 Rounded /ɔ/ then add the American r curl.

1. Start by rounding your lips and dropping your jaw slightly, similar to the "aw" sound.
2. Push your tongue back in your mouth, but keep the front of your tongue low.
3. Without moving your jaw much, relax your lips and tighten the back of your tongue, pulling it up and back to form the /r/ sound. Your teeth should be close together.

Watch out for

• Not rounding your lips enough: Make sure your lips are visibly rounded at the start of the sound.
• Over-stressing the 'O': The sound is a blend; don't make the 'O' part too strong, or it can sound regional.
• Replacing with 'AR': In some regions, this sound can shift to an 'AR' sound. Focus on the initial rounded vowel.

Words to try

• for
• storm
• short
• corner
• portion
• border
• morning
• score

💡 Practice blending the two parts of the sound smoothly for a natural flow!