4. Now go
Solved exercise: diphthongs
Let's study two English diphthongs: /aʊ/ and /əʊ/.
Although they are not difficult to pronounce, you must learn their common spellings, which are sometimes a bit confusing.
- For instance, the diphthong /aʊ/ often appears in spellings 'ou', such as in 'house' or 'loud'.
- /əʊ/ is, for example, the sound for 'oak', 'joke', 'so' or 'slow'.
- Words such as 'pause' or 'dawn' are pronounced /ɔː/.
Try to put these words in their correct column. If you need any help, you can ask Alice.
| /aʊ/ | /əʊ/ |
other |
|
|
Important
Pay attention to how these two diphthongs are pronounced by looking and listening carefully to these two videos.
/aʊ/
/əʊ/
Further knowledge
Solved exercise
Do you remember the song 'I will survive' from the second section? Listen to it again and decide the appropriate column for these words from the song:
now, around, to, thought, broken, so, without, no, hold, drop, love, how, know, down
| /aʊ/ | /əʊ/ |
other |
|
|
Self-Assessment activity
What diphthong do these words contain? Ask Alice if you need any help.
 |
| By wstera2, C. Commons |
1. gown
a)/aʊ/ | |
b)/əʊ/ | |
c) other | |
2. trout
a)/aʊ/ | |
b)/əʊ/ | |
c) other | |
3. go
a)/aʊ/ | |
b)/əʊ/ | |
c) other | |