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ɑːVowels
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/ɑː/

· · ·

Long 'ah' sound. Mouth opens wide, tongue lowered. Like 'a' in 'car'.

Example words

car 
father 
heart 
start 

How to make the sound

Open the mouth, keep the tongue low and back, and sustain the open vowel without lip rounding.

What to feel and listen for

The jaw is open and the lips stay neutral. Do not turn it into a front /æ/ sound.

Common mistake: Do not centralise /ɑː/ into /ʌ/.

See how it differs

Articulation profile

CloseOpenFrontBackɑː