Short O

Mastering the Short O sound helps you speak more clearly and naturally, especially in common everyday words. It's a simple, static sound that's key to sounding like a native speaker.

How to make it

/ɒ/
open back rounded
Lips: rounded
Tongue: low-back
Voicing: voiced
💡 Open, rounded lips, tongue low and back.

1. Drop your jaw and the front of your tongue.
2. Keep your tongue relaxed and flat in your mouth.
3. Your mouth should be wide open.
4. Keep your lips relaxed; don't round or tighten them.
5. The sound is static, meaning your mouth position doesn't change while you make the sound.

Watch out for

• Rounding your lips — The Short O is made with relaxed lips, not rounded like the "oh" in "go." Keep them neutral.
• Not opening your mouth enough — This can make the sound unclear. Make sure your jaw drops sufficiently.
• Making it too long and changing position — While you can stretch the sound, your mouth position should remain the same. If your mouth moves, it's no longer a short vowel.

Words to try

• odd
• dog
• hot
• stop
• clock
• frog
• shop
• job

💡 Practice makes perfect! Focus on keeping your mouth open and relaxed for a clear Short O sound.