Broad A

Mastering the "Broad A" sound will make your English sound much more natural, especially in common words you use every day. It's a key part of many American accents, helping you blend in effortlessly.

How to make it

/ɑ/
open back unrounded
Lips: neutral
Tongue: low-back
Voicing: voiced
💡 Open mouth wide, tongue low and back.

1. Relax your mouth and jaw, letting your jaw drop slightly.
2. Arch the back of your tongue up a little.
3. Lift your soft palate to open your throat.
4. Keep your lips relaxed and neutral.

Watch out for

• Too much lip rounding — The "Broad A" is made with relaxed lips. Avoid rounding them too much, which can make the sound closer to an /ɔ/.
• Tongue too far forward — Ensure the back of your tongue is slightly arched, not the front. A front tongue position can lead to a different vowel sound.
• Tensing your throat — Keep your throat open and relaxed. Tensing can restrict the sound and make it sound strained.

Words to try

• car
• father
• watch
• palm
• start
• drama
• hard
• quarter

💡 Practice makes perfect! Don't be afraid to exaggerate the mouth movements at first to really feel the sound.