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Vowel Sounds 27 words

ou diphth

Rule Core

The ou diphthong most commonly represents /aʊ/, a gliding vowel moving from an open position to a rounded, higher one. It typically appears in stressed syllables.

Articulation Guide

Start with a low, open jaw and relaxed lips; glide upward as the tongue rises and lips round slightly, keeping airflow smooth.

Word Analysis

  • abound /əˈbaʊnd/: clear stressed /aʊ/ glide.
  • accountancy /əˈkaʊntənsi/: ou anchors the stressed syllable.
  • aloud /əˈlaʊd/: strong glide before final consonant.

Pitfalls

Do not overgeneralize: ou may sound different in though, soup, or rough. Stress and origin matter.

Phonics Breakdown

Open start → tongue rises → lips round, airflow continuous.

Sound Reference

  • Check stress first; stressed ou often signals /aʊ/.
  • Practice slow glides to feel the vowel shift.

Common Mistakes

Reading all ou as /aʊ/.
Reducing the glide to a single vowel.

Example Words

abound accountancy aloud around arousal blouse compound dropout foul foundation

All Words (27)

abound accountancy aloud around arousal blouse compound dropout foul foundation fountain greenhouse house lookout mountain outgoing outlaw outrageous resounding shoulder shout southeastern southwestern stout surround underground whereabouts