Short O vs. Short U

Mastering the difference between the short 'o' and short 'u' sounds will make your English sound much clearer and more natural, helping you avoid misunderstandings.

How to make it

Short 'o' /ɒ/

1. Drop your jaw to open your mouth wide.
2. Keep your tongue low and forward in your mouth.
3. Relax your throat and tongue.

Short 'u' /ʌ/

1. Drop your jaw to open your mouth.
2. Lower the back of your tongue to widen your throat.
3. Keep your lips relaxed.

Watch out for

• Mixing up the two sounds: Pay close attention to the position of your tongue in the back of your mouth. For /ɒ/, the throat is not widened, but for /ʌ/, it is.
• Rounding your lips for /ɒ/: The short 'o' sound does not require lip rounding. Keep your lips relaxed and neutral.
• Tensing your tongue: Both sounds are lax vowels. Ensure your tongue and throat remain relaxed for a natural pronunciation.

Words to try

• on, off, drop, stop, rock, pot
• up, but, run, cut, luck, sun

💡 Practice makes perfect! Listen carefully to native speakers and try to imitate the subtle differences in these sounds.